write the essay on mobile phone

Essay on Mobile Phone for Students [100, 150, 250, 400 Words]

Essay on Mobile Phone: Mobile Phone is a wonderful gift of science. In this article, you are going to learn to write an essay on Mobile Phone in English (100, 150, 250 and 400 Words). So, let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Essay on Mobile Phone: 100 Words

The mobile phone is one of the greatest gifts of modern science. It is also called cell phone or smart phone.  It is a great medium of communication. In earlier times mobile phones were used only for communication. But now-a-days a mobile phone is used as an entertainment device. We can use it for watching videos, listening to music, capturing pictures, web browsing, calculating, navigating and many more purposes.

The mobile phone has many advantages but we should use it in moderation. Excessive use of mobile phones can affect our physical and mental health. Students often misuse it and their study is affected badly. We should use our mobile phones very wisely.

Mobile Phone Essay: 150 Words

The mobile phone is a miracle of science. From a minor student to an ordinary Worker, everyone possesses a cell phone. Indeed, this is a very popular item today. It is truly, a mark of modern living, a part of the modern life-style. Of course, its usefulness is undeniable. Now a man can have communication anywhere, anytime to anyone sitting thousands of kilometers from him.

Today it is not only a communication device. It can be used for a number of purposes like online ticket booking, navigation, playing video games, taking pictures, recording videos, web browsing, video calling etc. In fact, now we use mobile phone for taking online classes. Hence it is called a Smart Phone. At the same time, the excessive craze for this is not desirable and may even prove dangerous. Mobile phone is to be taken as an utility service, and not as a show-piece.

Also Read: Paragraph on Computer in English

Essay on Mobile Phone: 250 Words

A mobile phone or cell phone is a hand-held portable radiophone that uses the cellular or satellite network for voice or data communication. Unlike landline phones, which are fixed, mobile phones can be easily carried, and one can contact a person anywhere whether at home, on the bus, in street, or in a meeting. Apart from talking, it can be used for sending SMS, e-mail and for taking photos and videos.

High-end mobiles act as mini computers, offering services like internet, diary, music, iPod, calculator, alarm clock, etc. It is extremely useful in emergencies. But there is a tendency to abuse it. To many, it is an Addiction rather than a necessity. A cell phone ringing in an auditorium is most annoying. Using a mobile phone while driving a car or a motorbike and crossing a road or a railway track had led to many accidents.

Teleshopping is a great nuisance. Privacy is often violated, as most mobile users are unaware that they could be photographed or tracked. Terrorists use this gadget to trigger bombs and achieve their ends. Mobiles can also cause health hazards. The radiations from mobiles may cause injury to the brain. Cellphones on vibration mode put in front pocket may damage the heartbeat system. With all its advantages, what is, therefore, needed is moderation in the use of mobile phones.

Also Read: Essay on Television in English

Essay on Mobile Phones: 400 Words

When telephone was first introduced in the world in the 1950s, people were keenly interested in it. As an easier way of communication, telephone has its own merit. Of late, the introduction of mobiles makes an easy access to communication. It is in fact inevitable in the present day of hurry and business. People have warmly accepted mobiles as the blessing of science. There is little doubt that without the use of mobiles none is nowadays able to lead one’s life quite normally. One is capable of communicating with people, staying far away very quickly. Thus many a problem can be well- solved by way of using these mobiles.

But everything has its merit and demerit. As science is a bane as well as a boon, mobiles are to some extent to be cursed. People, especially the young generation, have been abusing mobiles. They not only chat in an unexpected way but also indulge themselves in leading immoral life by abusing mobiles. Apart from this, several mercenary companies exploit the advantage of mobiles to meet their selfish ends. They do business through mobiles. As a result, young people have been misguided. To use mobiles is for them to be up to date. They avail themselves of the opportunity of the internet connection in their mobiles and do whatever they like to do. Obscene video clippings and some other versions of immoral entertainment are now available in mobiles. Therefore, the students have now tremendous fascination for the mobiles. Consequently, instead of studying, concentrate on using mobiles for sheer fun.

Another demerit is that because of the excessive use of the mobiles different companies plunge themselves into doing profitable business. Consequently, numerous towers have been erected for the network of mobiles. It is well known that a particular wave which is responsible for the mobile network does harm to the ecological balance of the environment. It is evident in the pale colors of the trees and fruits adjacent to the mobile towers.

Thus, it is the time to be conscious of the abuse of the mobiles. The concerned authority should take immediate steps to stop immoral business which is proliferating in abusing mobiles. All should remember that the sole purpose of mobile is to communicate. Entertainment may be available in the network of mobiles. But there should be no immoral design. Above all, the government should restrict the use of mobiles, so much so that anti-social activities may not be done through mobiles.

Read More: 1. Newspaper Essay in English 2. Essay on Elephant 3. APJ Abdul Kalam Essay

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Essay on Mobile Phone: 100 Words, 300 Words, 500 Words

• Updated on  
• Feb 21, 2024

Mobile Phones are portable electronic devices used to make calls, browse the internet, click pictures, and do several other tasks. However, the mobile phones discovered in the early 1970s were quite different from the compact and slim devices we use today. Cell phones were invented by John F. Mitchell and Martin Cooper of Motorola in 1973.

As modern humans, we all use mobile phones for our day-to-day functioning. At academic and higher education levels, students are given the task of writing an essay on mobile phones. An essay on mobile phones requires a comprehensive and detailed study of their history, major developments and the purposes it serve. In this article, we have provided essays on mobile phones for class 6,7,8.9, 10, and 12th standard students. Students can refer to these sample essays on mobile phones to write their own. Keep reading to find out essays on mobile phones and some fun facts about the device.

Table of Contents

• 1 Sample Essay on Mobile Phone (100 Words)
• 2 Sample Essay on Mobile Phone (300 words)
• 3 Sample Essay on Mobile Phone (500 words)
• 4 Essay on Mobile Phone: 5+ Facts About Smartphones

Sample Essay on Mobile Phone (100 Words)

Also Read: The Beginner’s Guide to Writing an Essay

Sample Essay on Mobile Phone (300 words)

Also Read: Essay on Importance of the Internet

Sample Essay on Mobile Phone (500 words)

Essay on Mobile Phone: 5+ Facts About Smartphones

Here we have listed some of the interesting facts about smartphones. These facts can be added to the ‘essay on mobile phones’ to make it more interesting. Below are the 5 interesting facts about smartphones:

• The most expensive smartphone in the world is the Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond. It is worth  $48.5 million.
• The cheapest mobile phone in the world is the Freedom 251. It just cost INR 251.
• Apple is the world’s most popular smartphone
• The first phone greeting was “Ahoy-hoy, who’s calling please?” 
• The first smartphone was invented by IBM. It was released by IBM in 1994. The original screen name of the 1st smartphone was “Simon.” 
• The first text message in the world was ‘Merry Christmas’

Also Read: Holi Essay: Free Sample Essays 100 To 500 Words In English

A mobile phone system gets its name from diving the service into small cells. Each of these cells has a base station with a useful range in the order of a kilometre/mile.

Mobile phones have become extremely important due to the ease of communication it has brought about. Moreover, it can perform several major tasks easily and effectively. For example, a calculator. Aside from this mobile phones can help a user connect to the internet, and use social media applications, and other applications. Mobile phones can even assist in online payment. 

The full form or the meaning of a Moble is Modified, Operation, Byte, Integration, Limited, Energy”. John F. Mitchell and Martin Cooper of Motorola discovered the device in 1973. An essay on mobile phones can include the mobile phone full form.

Related Articles

Mobile phones have become an indispensable part of our lifestyle. There are several advantages and disadvantages of having a smartphone. However, the pros outweigh the cons. A mobile phone essay can be written by including both the advantages and disadvantages. To discover more articles like this one, consult the study abroad expert at Leverage Edu.

Blessy George

Blessy George is a Content Marketing Associate at Leverage Edu, boasting over a year of experience in the industry. Her expertise lies in crafting compelling content tailored to online courses, making her a go-to source for those navigating the vast landscape of digital learning. In addition to online classes, she writes content related to study abroad, English test preparation and visas. She has completed her MA degree in Political Science and has gained valuable experience as an intern.She is known for her extensive writing on various aspects of international education, garnering recognition for her insights and contributions. Apart from her professional pursuits, Blessy is passionate about creative writing, particularly poetry and songwriting.

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Mobile Phones Essay | Essay on Mobile Phones for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by sastry

Mobile Phones Essay:  Today, a kid who barely knows to speak well, knows what a mobile phone is literally. A mobile phone or cell phone is an electronic telecommunication device with the same basic capability as a conventional fixed-line, telephone, but which is also entirely portable and is not required to be connected with a wire to the telephone network. Most current mobile phones connect instead to the network using a wireless radio wave transmission technology.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Mobile Phones for Kids and Students in English

Given below are two essays in English for students and children about the topic of ‘Mobile Phones’ in both long and short form. The first essay is a long essay on Mobile Phones of 400-500 words. This long essay about Mobile Phones is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Mobile Phones of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.

Long Essay on Mobile Phones 500 Words in English

Below we have given a long essay on Mobile Phones of 500 words is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants. This long essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 7 to class 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants.

In addition to the standard voice function of a telephone, a mobile phone can support many additional services such as SMS for text messaging, packet switching for access to the internet, and MMS for sending and receiving photos and videos. In less than twenty years, mobile phones have gone from being rare and expensive pieces of equipment used by businesses to an all pervasive low-cost personal item. In many countries, mobile phones now outnumber landline telephones, with most adults and many children now owning mobile phones.

A mobile phone itself has become a fashion statement wherein the brand, cost type of handset, colour, added accessories reflect the personality of a person. People have made mobile phones a status symbol instead of necessity. This has thus given rise to an increase in criminal and antisocial activities in order to have money to satisfy this growing need to show off.

It’s tough to fit a music player, digital camera, phone, GPS all in the pocket at the same time. Fortunately, today’s cell phones come with all these features and thus it is not a problem anymore.

Today, cell phones have built in calculator, flashlight or torch, radio among other things. Phone is also an eBook reader, currency converter, handheld gaming device, e-mail checker, internet, video calling, 3G facilities, downloads, songs, movies, pictures, payment of bills, shopping, learning foreign language, health regulator, are the wonders of this small size gadget.

Mobile phones have shrunk the world into a global town wherein one person sitting in one continent can easily and instantly talk to the other residing in another continent. The mobile telecommunication is one of the largest in the world. People in cities, semi-urban areas and even in rural areas find its use essential to their life. Internet penetration in India is largely driven by mobile phones, with some of the most basic hand-sets offering access to the internet. About 70% of rural India’s active internet population access the web via mobile phones as they are easier to use than accessing PCs. Hillary Clinton has once said

“There are 4 billion cell phones in use today. Many of them are in hands of market vendors, rickshaw drivers, and others who’ve historically lacked access to education and opportunity”

However, with new technologies in the mobile phones, concerns have arisen about its effects on the health of the users. Scientific evidence also states an increase in certain types of rare tumours (cancer) seen in long-time, persistent heavy users. More recently, a study provided significant evidence of genetic damage under certain conditions.

Evidently, it has also been seen that there is a steep decline in the population of some birds due to the radiations emitted from mobile phones and its network towers. Especially the population of sparrows are seen to be migrating to less populated areas. It has also been observed that recently most of the accidents on roads occur because of distractions via mobile phones. Motorists have a much higher risk of collisions and losing control of the vehicles while talking on the mobile phones while driving.

Short Essay on Mobile Phones 200 Words in English

Below we have given a short essay on Mobile Phones is for Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This short essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 6 and below.

Apart from this, mobile phones are used by criminals to inform one another about their filthy ideas. The recent example can be taken of the movie ‘Holiday’ where it is made clear that how crime strategies are invented by the criminals using this technology in majority of the cases. Mobile phones have altered our way of life to an unbelievable degree. The charm of a long, hand written letter has been replaced by a short text message. The beautiful greeting cards have been replaced by small animated pictures. Moreover, its widespread usage has made the Idea cellular Company come up with a brilliant idea of being environmental friendly. Through their advertisements they campaigned: “Use mobile save paper” to replace and minimise the use of paper in several forms.

They are also an easily available help in case of an emergency. They save a lot of time and energy in making multiple calls to track a single person. Thus, they increase direct one-on-one relationship. The SMS is also a convenient way to keep in touch with your loved ones when no one has the time for writing long drawn letters which take days to even reach.

Mobiles are also a great source of entertainment.,You can listen to songs, play games, get live cricket scores, market-updates and even the headlines. No matter where one goes, cell phones are the only hope of keeping families connected without any hassle. Technology is here and it is here to stay. With the advancement happening almost every day Steve Jobs said

“What we want to do is make a leapfrog product that is way smarter than any other mobile device has ever been and super-easy to use”

So we are going to reinvent the phone

“There is surely a lot more that future holds with regard to mobile revolution.”

Mobile Phones Essay Word Meanings for Simple Understanding

• Conventional – traditional, common
• portable – convenient, movable
• Pervasive – widespread, prevalent, universal
• Instantly – immediately, urgently
• penetration – invasion, entry
• Persistent – continuous, constant
• Steep – sudden, extreme
• Filthy – dirty, nasty, foul
• Hassle – trouble, problem
• Leapfrog – advance
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Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phones

Only a very few people in today's world do not own or use mobile phones. Everybody utilises their mobile device daily for communication, business, and other activities now that it has become a part and parcel of everyone's lives. Read this article for an essay on the pros and cons of mobile phones.

100 Words Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phones

Every coin comes with its two sides. The same is true for cell phones; on one side, they are a fantastic innovation, but on the other, they also bring the worst aspects of society with them.

The greatest advantage of mobile phones these days is that they have become a constantly available source of entertainment which prevents people from getting bored. Access to information has become easier with mobile phones. Nowadays, sources of knowledge have become diversified, one of the best of them being the internet. Mobile phones allow consistent access to the internet, and therefore, to any information that one needs. However, the downside of mobile phones is that students often get distracted from studies because of phones. A lot of security threats have also emerged as a consequence of the constant availability of information through mobile phones.

200 Words Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phones

Mobile phones are made for better and quicker human interaction but the overuse and overdo of anything can have a negative influence. The main advantage of mobile phones is that they are easy to use and facilitate easy and quick communication between people. Another advantage is how they’ve given us easy access to more or less all kinds of information via the Internet. This is helpful for students, working people, and homemakers alike. Nowadays, especially after Covid-19, many schools, colleges, and educational institutions are offering education online, and mobile phones make it easy for students to attend classes virtually with all study material in the form of text, images, and videos.

One of the pitfalls of mobile phones is that they might distract one from their work, be it students or older people. Parents and teachers often complain of students using mobiles in-between studies even when it is not for study-related purposes. Also, it often happens that while watching movies or playing games on the phone, people get so engrossed that they do not blink their eyes for long hours, which may result in dryness, redness, and itching in the eyes. Hence, it is recommended that one should take small breaks and wash their eyes frequently when using the mobile for long hours.

500 Words Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phones

The cell phone has dramatically altered the common man’s lifestyle in the modern world. It is indeed a remarkable innovation that has brought in a lot of ease and comfort, but like everything else, the mobile phone comes with its own downsides.

Easy Communication

The greatest advantage of mobile phones these days is easy communication with family and friends, and people who live far away from us. Mobile phones make communication more convenient and affordable. Mobile phones have made communication simpler since we can now contact friends, family, coworkers, and other people at any time by just pushing a few buttons on our phones. There are additional features like video calls, text messaging, recorded calls, and more, which have made communication way easier than how it used to be a few years back.

Ease Of Education

During and after the Covid-19 pandemic, many educational institutions started providing classes online. Not everyone has a laptop or computer at home, and so, mobile phones have been helping a large number of students study online. There is also a variety of online courses that students who do not own a laptop or computer can access via mobiles and study subjects that interest them. In a way, it can be said that mobile phones have also taken education to the more remote corners of the world.

Mobiles May Harm Eyesight

Using the mobile for long hours can harm eyesight. Redness, itching, watery eyes, and dryness, are common eye complaints of people who use cell phones consistently. With the harmful rays emitted by mobile phones, vision may also be affected in the case of some people. To counter these effects, it is a good idea that one does basic eye muscle exercises, washes eyes regularly, and takes frequent breaks while using the phone.

Distraction From Work

Parents often complain about their children using mobile phones excessively and thereby losing out on study and playtime. Even in the case of grown-ups, mobile phones often become a distraction from work or other important tasks that a person may be engaged in. A good idea is to designate a specific time window for oneself to use the mobile phone. For instance, students may decide to study for a stretch of one hour and then spend 10 minutes on the phone, and then repeat the cycle. Another idea is to install time blocker apps that alert you when you spend more than the necessary time on any app on your phone.

Mobile phones are incredibly important in today's age of technological growth. Our lives have become simpler thanks to technology. Depending on how a person utilises a mobile phone, it might have both beneficial and bad effects. Mobile phones are made for better and quick human interaction but the overuse of anything yields negative results. Mobile devices do have their harmful effects which include those on our health as well. Students must be mindful of their cell phone usage and so should be adults. We can make the best use of mobile phones in terms of accessing information, communication, and entertainment when we use them mindfully and in a regulated way.

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• Mobile Phone Essay in English for Students

Essay on Mobile Phone for Students

What is an essay? An essay is a write-up from one’s perspective or jotting down one’s thoughts in one place regarding any topic. Writing an essay helps one to develop their writing skills and inculcate creativity in their writing. Likewise, all the parents should teach their kids how to write an essay. 

For your convenience, we have provided a sample essay on ‘Mobile Phone’ in the following. Take a glance through the article so that it becomes easy for you to teach how to write an essay effortlessly.

Mobile Phone

In the era of technical advancement, mobile phones play a very significant role. Technology has made our life quite easier. Life without a mobile phone seems to be quite impossible these days. Precisely, we become handicapped without a phone in hand.

Speaking of mobile phones, it is also referred to as ‘cellular phone’ or ‘smartphone’. Martin Cooper of Motorola produced the first handheld mobile phone call on a prototype DynaTAC model on 3 April 1973. 

Earlier it was only used for calling. But these days, everything is possible through a mobile phone. From sending a message to video calling, internet browsing, photography to video games, emailing and a lot more services can be availed through this handheld phone. 

Advantages of Using Mobile Phones

There are several advantages to using a mobile phone. Here are some provided in the following. 

Helps to Communicate:

Life is easier with mobiles. It helps you to communicate with your near and dear ones through calls, video chats, text messages, emails. Apart from that, it helps you to book a cab, show the map direction, order groceries and many more things. The main advantage of having a mobile is it helps to keep you connected with the entire world irrespective of your location.

A Medium of Entertainment:

With the advent of mobile, now you will be able to get entertained wherever you are. Now the world of entertainment is available just a click away, such as you can watch movies, listen to music, or watch your favorite sports or browse on social media networks etc. 

Mobile Banking:

Can you imagine doing all of your banking transactions and other relevant work through your cell phone? Yes, now everything is possible with the advancement of technology. Be it making a quick payment or transferring money to your family or checking the transaction history or accessing the bank accounts, everything is possible with just a tap of your button. So, it is quite efficient and saves a lot of your precious time.

Office Work Through Mobile:

These days mobiles are used for different types of official work such as scheduling meetings, giving presentations, sending and receiving important documents, applying for jobs, etc. Mobiles have become an essential device in every working person’s life.

Disadvantages of Using Mobile Phones

Creating distance:

While mobile phones claim to connect people and help to communicate with each other, the irony here is that it is creating more distance between people. Nowadays people are more hooked on their phones. So, they mostly spend their time browsing social media or texting each other rather than meeting and talking face to face. 

No Privacy:

These days one of the major concerns is losing one’s privacy through mobile usage. Now anyone could easily access all the important information related to you with just one tap. Not only your information, information about your family, friends, personal life, career, everything is pretty easily accessible. 

Waste of a Lot of Time and Money:

Time and money both are precious in everyone’s life. As the utilization of mobile phones is increasing day by day, the waste of time and money is also increasing gradually. People are becoming addicted to their phones, be it surfing the internet or playing games or checking social media. Besides, the smarter a phone becomes, the more money people spend to buy that phone instead of spending the money on something useful.

FAQs on Mobile Phone Essay in English for Students

1. What is essay writing?

An essay is a piece of writing that expresses the author's point of view; yet, the definition is ambiguous, merging with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short fiction. Formal and casual essays have typically been divided into two categories. The formal essay has a serious objective, dignity, logical organization, and length, whereas the informal essay has a personal element, humor, graceful language, rambling structure, unconventionality or freshness of theme," and so on.

Literary critique, political manifestos, academic arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author are all popular uses for essays. Although almost all modern essays are written in prose, compositions in verse have often been labeled as essays. While an essay is typically defined by its brevity, works such as John Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding and Thomas Malthus's An Essay on the Principle of Population are exceptions. To garner more information, click here.

2. Give a brief overview of mobile phones and their history.

Mobile phones are quite important in this age of technological growth. Our lives have been made much easier by technological advancements. These days, life appears to be impossible without a cell phone. Without a phone in our hands, we become disabled.

When it comes to mobile phones, they're also known as 'cellular phones' or smartphones.' On April 3, 1973, Motorola's Martin Cooper made the first handheld mobile phone call on a prototype DynaTAC device.

It was formerly only used for calling. However, nowadays, everything is possible via a mobile phone. This handheld phone can do anything from sending a message to video calling, internet browsing, photography, video games, and emailing, among other things.

3. What are some advantages of using mobile phones?

Using a mobile phone has several benefits. The following are a few suggestions.

Aids in Communication:

Mobile phones make life easier. It allows you to contact your loved ones via phone conversations, video chats, text messages, and emails. Apart from that, it assists you in booking a cab, displaying map directions, ordering groceries, and a variety of other tasks. The biggest benefit of owning a mobile phone is that it allows you to stay connected to the rest of the world regardless of where you are.

An Entertainment Medium:

With the introduction of mobile phones, you may now be amused wherever you are. The world of entertainment is now just a click away, with options such as watching movies, listening to music, watching your favorite sports or browsing social media networks.

4. State some of the drawbacks of using mobile phones.

Some of the drawbacks of using mobile phones are:

Creating a buffer:

While mobile phones claim to connect people and make it easier for them to interact, the irony is that they create more distance between them. People nowadays are more reliant on their phones. As a result, they choose to spend their time on social media or texting instead of meeting and talking face to face.

There is no privacy:

One of the major issues these days is losing one's privacy due to cell phone usage. With just one swipe, anyone may now readily access all of your vital information. Not only is your information easily accessible, but so is information about your family, friends, personal life, and work.

A waste of time and money:

In everyone's life, time and money are both quite valuable. As the number of people using mobile phones grows, so does the amount of time and money spent on them.

5. How is an essay writing useful to students?

Writing essays help students develop important abilities and functions in their education, making them more useful. One, writing essays allows students to practice and improve abilities that they can apply throughout their academic careers and into their careers. For example, one can improve their reading and writing skills, as well as their capacity to think, organize thoughts, and communicate effectively.

Two, it enables pupils to develop a formal and orderly writing style that reliably conveys information. Three, it aids in the organization of your thoughts on what you are learning, the development of vocabulary, and the development of a distinct writing style. Get free study materials through the Vedantu app and website.

Uses of Mobile Phones Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on uses of mobile phones.

Mobile phones are one of the most commonly used gadgets in today’s world. Everyone from a child to an adult uses mobile phones these days. They are indeed very useful and help us in so many ways.

Mobile phones indeed make our lives easy and convenient but at what cost? They are a blessing only till we use it correctly. As when we use them for more than a fixed time, they become harmful for us.

Uses of Mobile Phone

We use mobile phones for almost everything now. Gone are the days when we used them for only calling. Now, our lives revolve around it. They come in use for communicating through voice, messages, and mails. We can also surf the internet using a phone. Most importantly, we also click photos and record videos through our mobile’s camera.

The phones of this age are known as smartphones . They are no less than a computer and sometimes even more. You can video call people using this phone, and also manage your official documents. You get the chance to use social media and play music through it.

Moreover, we see how mobile phones have replaced computers and laptops . We carry out all the tasks through mobile phones which we initially did use our computers. We can even make powerpoint presentations on our phones and use it as a calculator to ease our work.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Disadvantages of Mobile Phones

While mobile phones are very beneficial, they also come to a lot of disadvantages. Firstly, they create a distance between people. As people spend time on their phones, they don’t talk to each other much. People will sit in the same room and be busy on their phones instead of talking to each other.

Subsequently, phones waste a lot of time. People get distracted by them easily and spend hours on their phones. They are becoming dumber while using smartphones . They do not do their work and focus on using phones.

Most importantly, mobile phones are a cause of many ailments. When we use phones for a long time, our eyesight gets weaker. They cause strain on our brains. We also suffer from headaches, watery eyes, sleeplessness and more.

Moreover, mobile phones have created a lack of privacy in people’s lives. As all your information is stored on your phone and social media , anyone can access it easily. We become vulnerable to hackers. Also, mobile phones consume a lot of money. They are anyway expensive and to top it, we buy expensive gadgets to enhance our user experience.

In short, we see how it is both a bane and a boon. It depends on us how we can use it to our advantage. We must limit our usage of mobile phones and not let it control us. As mobile phones are taking over our lives, we must know when to draw the line. After all, we are the owners and not the smartphone.

FAQs on Uses of Mobile Phones

Q.1 How do mobile phones help us?

A.1 Mobile phones are very advantageous. They help us in making our lives easy and convenient. They help us communicate with our loved ones and carry out our work efficiently. Furthermore, they also do the work of the computer, calculator, and cameras.

Q.2 What is the abuse of mobile phone use?

A.2 People are nowadays not using but abusing mobile phones. They are using them endlessly which is ruining their lives. They are the cause of many ailments. They distract us and keep us away from important work. Moreover, they also compromise with our privacy making us vulnerable to hackers.

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Essay on Mobile Phone

Essay generator.

In the digital age, the mobile phone has transitioned from a luxury to a fundamental necessity in people’s lives. It serves not just as a means of communication but as a gateway to the world, encapsulating functionalities that span from basic telephony to advanced computing. This essay delves into the multifaceted nature of mobile phones, examining their evolution, impact, benefits, and challenges, while offering insights for students participating in essay writing competitions.

Mobile Phone

The advent of the mobile phone has revolutionized the way we communicate, work, and entertain ourselves. With its inception in the late 20th century, the mobile phone was a bulky, expensive device limited to making and receiving calls. However, the relentless pace of technological advancement has transformed it into a sleek, versatile tool that fits in the palm of our hands, capable of performing a multitude of tasks beyond mere voice communication.

Evolution of Mobile Phones

The evolution of mobile phones is a testament to human ingenuity and technological progress. From the first generation (1G) that introduced analog voice communication, through the second generation (2G) that brought in digital networks and the concept of SMS, to the third generation (3G) which made internet access on-the-go a reality. The fourth generation (4G) elevated the speed and quality of wireless communications, paving the way for high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing, and advanced gaming. Currently, the fifth generation (5G) promises unprecedented speeds, reduced latency, and the capacity to connect a vast network of devices, heralding a new era of innovation and connectivity.

Impact on Society

The mobile phone’s impact on society is profound and multifaceted. It has democratized access to information, bridging the digital divide by providing internet access to remote areas. Mobile phones have also revolutionized industries, from e-commerce and finance, where mobile banking and payment systems have flourished, to healthcare, where telemedicine and health tracking apps offer new ways to manage health. Furthermore, mobile phones have become pivotal in emergency response and disaster management, facilitating faster coordination and information dissemination during crises.

• Communication Revolution : Mobile phones have revolutionized communication, making it easier and more convenient for people to stay in touch with friends, family, and colleagues. They have virtually eliminated geographic barriers to communication.
• Accessibility : Mobile phones have increased accessibility to telecommunication services, even in remote and underserved areas, connecting people who previously had limited access to communication networks.
• Information Access : Mobile phones provide instant access to vast amounts of information through the internet. This has transformed the way people access news, research, and educational resources.
• Economic Impact : Mobile phones have contributed to economic growth by enabling businesses to reach a wider customer base, facilitating mobile banking and financial services, and creating job opportunities in the mobile technology sector.
• Social Connectivity : Social media platforms and messaging apps on mobile phones have reshaped social interactions and relationships, allowing people to connect, share, and communicate on a global scale.
• Emergency Services : Mobile phones provide a lifeline during emergencies. They allow people to call for help, share location information, and receive emergency alerts and warnings.
• Healthcare : Mobile phones have the potential to improve healthcare through telemedicine and health monitoring applications. Patients can consult with healthcare professionals remotely and access health information easily.
• Education : Mobile phones have become tools for learning, with educational apps, e-books, and online courses readily available. They are particularly valuable in supporting distance and online education.
• Entertainment : Mobile phones offer a wide range of entertainment options, including gaming, streaming video, music, and e-books, providing users with entertainment and relaxation.

Benefits of Mobile Phones

The benefits of mobile phones are manifold. They enhance communication by enabling instant messaging, emails, and video calls, thus keeping people connected across the globe. Mobile phones serve as powerful educational tools, offering access to online courses, e-books, and research platforms. They support navigation through GPS services, provide entertainment through games, music, and videos, and enable users to capture life’s moments through high-quality cameras. Moreover, mobile phones have become indispensable in managing daily tasks through apps for shopping, banking, booking services, and more.

Challenges and Concerns

Despite their numerous benefits, mobile phones also present challenges and concerns. Privacy and security issues arise with the potential for data breaches and unauthorized surveillance. Health concerns, such as the risk of addiction and the impact on mental well-being, particularly among younger users, are increasingly being recognized. Furthermore, the environmental impact of mobile phones, from the extraction of raw materials to electronic waste, poses significant challenges for sustainability.

Responsible Use and Digital Literacy

Addressing the challenges associated with mobile phones requires promoting responsible use and enhancing digital literacy. Users should be educated on privacy settings, secure online practices, and the importance of taking regular breaks from screen time to mitigate health risks. Encouraging the recycling of electronic devices and supporting sustainable production practices are crucial steps towards minimizing the environmental footprint of mobile phones.

In conclusion, the mobile phone is a remarkable technological achievement that has transformed every aspect of human life. Its evolution from a simple communication device to a multifunctional tool reflects the rapid pace of technological innovation. While the benefits of mobile phones are undeniable, it is imperative to address the accompanying challenges through responsible use, digital literacy, and sustainable practices. For students participating in essay writing competitions, understanding the complexities of mobile phones offers a rich topic that touches on technology, society, and the environment, providing ample material for a compelling and insightful essay.

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Generate an essay on the importance of extracurricular activities for student development

Write an essay discussing the role of technology in modern education.

Essay On Mobile Phones [Short & Long]

Essay on Mobile Phone- Mobile phone or smartphone is growing in popularity around the world. It is the most popular means of communication nowadays. Earlier it was very costly to talk to someone next to your city but today it has become very cheap and affordable for everyone.

Short Essay On Mobile Phone | 250 words

Introduction.

A mobile phone or smartphone is the most used means of communication today. It has made our life easier than ever. Today, we can easily talk or video call across the world within seconds. A mobile phone was developed with the sole aim to make people connected when they are away from home.

But today it has become a necessity for all of us. Apart from communication, it is a very helpful device today that lets us do many different tasks like voice calling, video chatting, text messaging or SMS, multimedia messaging, internet browsing , email, video games, and photography. Hence it is called a ‘Smart Phone.

There are a bunch of advantages to using a mobile phone or smartphone. We will talk about them one by one below.

• Stays us Connected- The primary function of a mobile phone is to make us connected to our loved ones and also to the world.
• Entertainment- Mobile phone is full of entertainment. We can play games, watch our favourite movies and can listen to our favourite songs on the go.
• Helps in studies- The facility of the internet has made the device “mobile phone” the smartest one that can provide us with all the answers to our doubts . It helps us complete our school assignments and also helps us to get rid of the confusion of educational concepts.
• Mobile Banking- Mobile helps us to do transactions without going to our bank and we can do shopping at our favourite shopping malls without having cash money.

Disadvantages

As we know that everything on the planet is with pros and cons so the mobile phone.

• Cell phone addiction- Cell phone is making us addicted to using them more and more. According to a survey an individual is spending 5 hours a day using a smartphone.
• Time wastage- As we know phones are smart nowadays because people do not even aware of how their attention is being pulled towards using the mobile phone. Hence they are using it for hours and hours wasting their precious time.
• Psychological health- Mobile phones are impacting our psychological health very badly. Those who overused their smart phones  were more likely to score higher on the depression and anxiety scales. Mobile phones influence our  nervous system . They may cause  headaches , decreased attention, shortness of temper,  sleep  disorders and depression, mostly among teenagers.

In conclusion, the mobile phone is a tool to make our life easy but today we are getting addicted to it. This could be proved dangerous if we do not get up from sleep at the right time. We should be very aware of when and why to use a mobile phone. Only use it for your self-growth not for wasting time.

Long Essay On Mobile Phone | 500 Words

Communication makes humans different from any other species on Earth. We can share our thoughts and ideas more efficiently than any other organism. Today, there are numerous ways to communicate with others.

Earlier we communicated through gestures and demonstrations. Then we developed many languages to share our inner thoughts, ideas and expressions.

With evolution, we developed tools that helped us communicate far from our homes. We used telegrams, letters, telephones etc. Among all of them, the telephone kept evolving and actually is evolving now. This technology encouraged mobile phones which are the most popular communication medium today.

Mobile phone or smartphone is used for text and voice communication. We also can browse the internet on our smartphones and it has given us the ability to video call across the globe.

Uses of mobile phones

Mobile phones are the most used gadget today because it is now equipped with a lot of functionalities like cameras, flashlights, clocks, music sounds, microphones for recording and even microscopes attached to newer versions of the smartphone. Smartphones have reduced the scope of wristwatches, cameras, clocks, diaries, wallets, id proofs, music systems, television s, radios, newspapers etc.

Earlier we used to use mobile phones to communicate with people far from us. But today we use it for different purposes like photography, videography, playing games, listening to music, watching movies, shopping, internet and mobile banking, video calling, taking notes, tracking our daily activities and more.

Merits of Mobile Phones

A mobile phone is full of merits and advantages until we use it efficiently. We will discuss some of the pros of using a mobile phone which is counted among the various wonders of science .

• Keeps us connected- The mobile phone was made with this sole vision and this feature is not going anywhere until the existence of smartphones.
• Equips us with power- Today mobile phones come with video cameras and microphones that can help us record unfair activities with us so that we can seek justice forward in time.
• A great companion- We can not feel alone in the presence of a smartphone. It entertains us with music, games and movies with just some movements of our fingers. We can also connect to our loved ones within seconds.
• Managing other stuff- With the use of different applications, you can manage a lot of important things like shopping, banking, tracking your daily activities, taking notes, preparing plans and more.
• Updated about the world- Gone are the days when we used to read the news the day after the happenings. We are today updated with happening in the world every second.

Demerits of Mobile Phones

• Time wastage- As we know phones are smart nowadays because people do not even aware of how their attention is being pulled towards using the mobile phone. Hence they are using it for hours and hours wasting their precious time .
• Loss of privacy- Privacy is no more private for one. Using a smartphone can stake our privacy making it easy to steal information about where we are, where we are going, what we are doing and much more.
• Psychological health- Mobile phones are impacting our psychological health very badly. Those who overused their smartphones were more likely to score higher on the depression and anxiety scales. Mobile phones influence our  nervous system . They may cause  headaches , decreased attention, shortness of temper,  sleep  disorders and depression, mostly among teenagers.

Cell Phone Addiction

Cell phone addiction sometimes referred to as problematic mobile phone use, is a behavioural addiction thought to be similar to that of an Internet, shopping, or video game addiction and leads to severe impairment or distress in one’s life.

Until the age of 25, the human brain is not fully developed. That is why adolescents are more likely to get addicted to a smartphone. Social media is much more addictive for youth as it has become a trend in society.

A smartphone-addicted Spends more time connecting online  than connecting with people in real life and Sleeps with the smartphone  on or under the pillow. Sometimes he or she believes the cell phone to have rung or vibrated  when it hasn’t. It is a dangerous type of addiction like other addictions.

Final Words (Conclusion)

To sum it up, a smartphone was invented to save precious time but today we use it for wasting time. The greatest thing is that we are not even aware of the waste of time. So, there is a need to use a mobile phone in a way that will make us more productive and efficient. Otherwise, smartphones will get smarter and people will get duller.

What are the advantages of a Mobile phone?

A mobile phone helps us in various ways like keeping us connected to loved ones and the world. It keeps us updated about the happenings in the world. It makes us entertained and makes our life easy.

What are some demerits of using a smartphone?

Excessive usage of  mobile  phones causes a waste of valuable time. Mobile phones cause isolation in people. Addiction to mobile phones causes distraction from work. Wastage of too much money is also caused due to  mobile  phones.

How to write an essay on mobile phones?

Follow these steps to write an essay on mobile phones. 1. Write an engaging intro to the mobile phone 2. Think of some subheadings like advantages and disadvantages of smartphones 3. Write down the subheading with facts and data 4. At last, give a conclusion That way, your essay on mobile phones is done.

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Short Essay on Mobile Phone [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF

In this session, you will learn to write short essays on Mobile Phones . Here you will go through three sets of short essays on the same topic covering different word limits. 

Table of Contents

Short essay on mobile phone in 100 words, short essay on mobile phone in 200 words, short essay on mobile phone in 400 words.

As the most advanced and modern living beings on the earth, human beings need equipment and devices to communicate with each other and with the world. Mobile phones are the most sophisticated communicating devices which enable people to not just talk with others, but also to play games, watch movies, listen to songs, and enjoy different modes of entertainment.

Mobile phones were established in 1973 as portable handsets. But from there it has evolved into walkie-talkies, small mobile phones, and later on the androids and iPhones. The greater the change in appearance, the better the quality of the phone. Today mobile phones are the definition of development. Without it, the internet cannot be used and one will remain completely disconnected from the world.

If there is anything that can define the 21st century is the gadgets that human beings use for their daily purposes. Several instruments are necessary for our daily needs and we simply cannot think of our lives without them. A mobile phone is one of those gadgets which occupies a very important position in our lives.

It was invented by the Motorola company on 3rd April 1973 as a portable handset like the handset of the landline telephone connections. Its only purpose at that time was to make and receive phone calls. The portable form made it altogether more attractive. For a more extended period, such phones or walkie-talkies were in vogue. 

However, with a change in time, mobile phones also have undergone evolution at different levels. In the beginning, the handsets were reduced in size, and a screen was added to see the time, place, and the name of the person calling.

It was equipped with other minimal settings and language changes and also provided with a small fun game. With the invention of smartphones as android systems and later through iPhones, today the concept of mobile phones is greatly altered. It includes a camera, internet, banking facilities, and several applications for shopping and selling. The Internet now defines the use of mobile phones. So without this device, one can hardly even exist in the modern world.

The mobile phone is one of the most important devices of all. It is the premium model of communication and environment in the present-day world. Since its invention, it has now undergone several evolution and changes. As a result, it has tied up with the developing century and accustomed itself to its needs. Today we can hardly think of living without a mobile phone for even some hours. It is the most indispensable need of mankind and a marker of its development.

Mobile phones were invented by the Motorola company on 3rd April 1973, as portable headsets so that they can be used as a walkie-talkie. It is the first step towards the development of mankind in a more sophisticated method. It enabled humans to use it without the connecting wire of the landline telephone connections. However, those sorts of telephones were only used for calling and receiving phone calls. It had no screen and only buttons for calls.

Later on, with gradual research and developments, phones were modified into the first modern-day mobile phones, famously popularized by Nokia. It was the first handset with a screen that was much more than just simply calling the other person. It included a small screen for the first time that showed the time and simple details of the mobile phone. It contained several minimal settings and also some simple games for fun purposes.

The mobiles had ringtones and colour changes for personalized versions of their own. Thus with this more research took place and the present android system was created for the first time. Companies like Samsung, Nokia, Lenovo, and others started producing androids. It has much more developed functions with the application of the internet.

Thus more sophisticated games and software can now be accommodated into this new system. Systems like video calls and other messaging facilities, and social media applications like Whatsapp, Facebook, messenger, and others are introduced into android phones. Presently, iPhones are the most expensive and sophisticated ones. 

With growing times mobile phones have also developed. However, that has created ample problems too. Many people including children are getting addicted to their phones. Harmful games and gambling are destroying the youth. Several health issues are happening due to the prolonged use of mobile phones. Also, phones are becoming quite expensive to afford by the common people with low capital. Thus with these difficulties in mind, one has to be quite careful in handling this modern electronic device. 

I have tried to adopt a very simplistic approach to writing these essays for a better understanding of all kinds of students. Hopefully, you have a holistic idea about the topic after going through this session. If you still have any confusion, let me know through the comment section below. Keep browsing our website for more such sessions.

Join us on Telegram to get the latest updates on our upcoming sessions. Thank you for being with us. All the best. 

The Use of Mobile Phones in the Classroom Can Help Students Learn Better Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

It is undeniable that today’s world revolves around technology due to its growth over the past decades. Mobile phones as a part of technology have become increasingly common in modern society. Today, it is impossible to imagine an adolescent or an adult without a cell phone. Students have started to use mobile phones in classrooms, which has raised many concerns among teachers, schools’ authorities, and parents. While there are several disadvantages of the utilization of technology during classes, the advantages of it prevail.

The benefits of technology for students are evident. First, mobile phones can substitute textbooks and notebooks, which may have a positive impact on individuals’ health as they do not have to carry heavy bags to schools. Students can download learning materials in electronic form and use them during classes. Moreover, they can find the information faster and save time to perform other important tasks. Second, with the help of mobile phones, students can have access to their textbooks, lectures, and notes anywhere and at any time. They can read on the bus on their way to school, which may increase the time they dedicate to the analysis of the learning materials and help them to reflect on the topics of discussions.

Furthermore, students can use mobile phones as dictionaries in language classes. It may save their time and ensure that the long learning process does not discourage them. Also, they can download applications that are designed to assist in acquiring new language skills.

It is necessary to mention that students can use mobile phones as organizational or planning tools. They can plan their time based on the deadlines, arrange their activities and track their grades and performance in class. While many students use notebooks for such purposes, the utilization of mobile phones allows for having all the information in one place and ensuring that no important data is lost. Moreover, teachers can be involved in the organizational process too by sharing the necessary information about due dates and requirements via applications. It may improve teacher-student relationships and increase individuals’ performance in class.

There are several drawbacks associated with the use of mobile phones in the classroom. The primary one is that they can distract students from learning, as they may prefer to play games or use social networks. Moreover, individuals can become aggressive if the teachers or school authorities try to forbid the use of technology in class. To eliminate the possible negative outcomes, it is necessary for students to learn how to avoid distraction while working with mobile phones.

For example, they can delete unnecessary applications or restrict their use during classes. Apart from that, students can improve their performance by studying the factors that can cause distraction and avoiding them. Teachers and schools’ authorities should also consider investigating the benefits of the technology to prevent the establishment of unnecessary policies related to its use in the classroom.

The use of mobile phones in the classroom can improve student’s performance and help them to have better learning outcomes. It can save their time, prevent them from carrying heavy bags with textbooks and notebooks and increase the accessibility of course materials. The possible drawbacks of the use of technology in class are individuals’ distraction and aggression. However, students can eliminate the disadvantages of the utilization of mobile phones by avoiding the factors that can cause negative learning outcomes.

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IvyPanda. (2021, July 18). The Use of Mobile Phones in the Classroom Can Help Students Learn Better. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-use-of-mobile-phones-in-the-classroom-can-help-students-learn-better/

"The Use of Mobile Phones in the Classroom Can Help Students Learn Better." IvyPanda , 18 July 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/the-use-of-mobile-phones-in-the-classroom-can-help-students-learn-better/.

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IvyPanda . 2021. "The Use of Mobile Phones in the Classroom Can Help Students Learn Better." July 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-use-of-mobile-phones-in-the-classroom-can-help-students-learn-better/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Use of Mobile Phones in the Classroom Can Help Students Learn Better." July 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-use-of-mobile-phones-in-the-classroom-can-help-students-learn-better/.

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Essay on Mobile Phone

Essay on Mobile Phone: The mobile phone is one of the greatest invention in the twentieth century. A mobile phone can make phone calls, enable the user to send text messages, play games, take pictures, record videos, provide access to the internet, and much more. The mobile phone can be very useful in many different situations. For the past few years the world has witnessed a tremendous growth in mobile phone usage.

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Today, mobile phone users in the world are around 5 Billion. Despite having several advantages, there are certainly some disadvantages to owning and using a mobile phone. In this article, we have covered a few essays on mobile phone that talk about both advantages and disadvantages. Find long and short formats of essay on mobile phone here.

Long and Short Essay on Mobile Phone in English

Below we have given a set of 5 essay on mobile phone and has covered various related topics to fulfill your requirements.

After going through the following mobile phone essay you will learn various significant topics on mobile phones like – its uses and abuses, is it helpful or rather annoying, what are its advantages and disadvantages, and how mobile phones are important for our daily life, etc.

A cell phone simplifies our lives. It serves for work or business, online classes, entertainment, and communication with friends and family. Nowadays, smartphones come with various handy features and fast internet, making it easy to access information promptly.

Essay on Mobile Phone in 200 Words

A mobile phone is a communication device, often also called as “cell phone”. It is a device mainly used for voice communication. However, technological developments in the field of communication have made the mobile phones smart enough to be able to make video calls, surf the internet, play games, take high resolution pictures and even control other relevant gadgets. Because of this mobile phones today are also called “Smart Phones”.

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World’s first ever mobile phone was demonstrated way back in 1973, by the Motorola’s then President and COO, John Francis Mitchell and an American Engineer, Martin Cooper. That mobile phone weighed around 2 kilograms.

Since then mobile phones have evolved in technology and shapes. They have become smaller, slimmer and more useful. Today mobile phones are available in various shapes and sizes, having different technical specifications and are used for a number of purposes like – voice communication, video chatting, text messaging, multimedia messaging, internet browsing, e mail, video games and photography. They also have short range wireless communication like Bluetooth and infrared. Phones having wide range of advance functions and large computing abilities are called smart phones. They have an edge over other conventional mobile phones, which are used only for voice communication.

Essay on Mobile Phone in 300 Words – Uses and Abuses

There is no denying the fact that mobile phones are useful gadgets. They help us in our everyday life in a number of ways, making it easy and convenient. But, mobile phones are a blessing till they are used only for useful purposes. Using them beyond a certain limit even when there is no need at all, is not an use, but and abuse.

Uses of Mobile Phone

Mobile Phones can be used for a number of purposes like – voice communication, sending e mails, sending text messages, browsing internet, taking pictures. Smart phone today have better computing abilities and have many advance functions like – real time video chatting, interactive voice response, document manager, social media, high resolution camera, music player, location finder etc.

Communicating with our loved ones, friends or colleagues has become a matter of seconds due to the mobile phones. You just have to dial the other person’s number from your phone and wait till he/she responds to it. Mobile phones today have become so useful that, they have actually replaced the use of laptops and other bigger gadgets. Today, people send e mails, browsing the internet, manage social media accounts, power point presentations, perform calculations, and much more by using their smart phones.

Also Check: Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phones

Abuses of Mobile Phone

Excessive and unnecessary use of a mobile phone leads to its abuse. Even, talking for long durations on mobile phones over trivial and insignificant issues is also a type of abuse. Doctors have repeatedly warned that continuous and excessive use of mobile phones is harmful to health. Another abuse of mobile phones includes listening to loud music. Mobile phones are handy and are easy to carry in pockets. Some youngsters today have taken this entertaining capability of mobile phones to a new level of abusing it. They drive or walk on busy roads, listening to loud music, with ear plugs; unable to listen an approaching vehicle and respond on time, resulting in accidents.

It is established beyond doubt that mobile phones are useful and necessary gadgets for our everyday life. Without mobile phones, life would be harder, both personally as well as professionally. But, despite the uses that mobile phones serve in our everyday life, we must also be aware of its abuses. Mobile phones could have health and safety consequences when not used appropriately.

Essay on Mobile Phone Boon or Bane – 400 Words

Mobile phones are a boon as they are used for a number of useful purposes. Nevertheless, there is also no denying the fact that a gadget as useful as a mobile phone could sometime be annoying and irritating.

Boon or Bane

Of course mobile phones are a boon given to the number of useful purposes they are used for like – internet, voice or video chat, documentation etc. Despite from the usual there are other uses like – social media and remain updated about the developments. Today every mobile phone user has a social media account, which he manages from his mobile phone. It helps him/her to remain connected to family and friends as well as other dignitaries like politicians, actors, cricketers etc.

But despite all the advantages, mobile phones could sometimes be annoying too. The use of mobile phones for various purposes and the accessibility of internet have compromised the privacy of the user. Also, every form that we fill today has a mandatory column asking to provide the phone number. Today the number of a common mobile phone user is available with many marketing agencies whose main aim is to sell their product. This loop hole in privacy has led to unwanted and unexpected marketing calls. People get annoying calls from insurance agents, marketing executives, etc, trying to sell their products to the mobile phone user, who is not at all interested.

Next in line is social media. Social media is a place where people share their views, pictures etc with those who are connected. However, this has also compromised the privacy to a certain level as someone undesirable could also peek into your account and send annoying messages; trailing you regularly. Such unwanted social buffs could be really annoying and some people are known to be trailed so regularly using inappropriate and indecent comments that they had to totally shut down their social media account.

In the end it would be more appropriate to say that mobile phones are both a boon and a bane. They are a boon when used appropriately and within limits but could be bane when they are used with mala fide intentions. Even a useful gadget as a mobile phone could be well annoying when it is used with the bad intention of deceiving someone, trailing him/her inappropriately on social media and other accounts.

Essay on Mobile Phone in 500 Words – Advantages and Disadvantages

An electronic gadget as a mobile phone has both advantages and disadvantages. There are a number of advantages of mobile phones and also a good number of disadvantages. Though, most of the disadvantages arise from it’s over use or misuse. Below we will go through both the advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones.

Advantages of Mobile Phone

A Mobile phone makes things simpler for us. We can use it for work, learning online, having fun, or chatting with loved ones. Newer phones have lots of helpful stuff, like speedy internet to find things fast and without trouble.

• Communication: It is one of the prime significance of mobile phones. You can instantly connected to the person you want to convey an important message or to have a casual chat. Distance too doesn’t matter and even people situated on two extremes of world can be connected within seconds.
• Internet Browsing: Rapid advancements in mobile phone technology have led to an ease of internet accessability on mobile phones. Today, one can check the news, send/receive emails, and manage social accounts, all on mobile phones.
• Performing Business: Mobile phones have become so popular that many established business groups cannot even think about their marketing strategy without considering mobile phone users. Social media accounts are the easiest way to connect with millions of users (in these case consumers) in a very less time.
• Learning Applications: There are a variety of applications available on mobile phone which helps the students to learn and evolve their skills. Moreover, there are a number of online free tutorials available for the children and other willing audience.

Disadvantages of Mobile Phones

• Making People Non communicable: Widespread use of mobile phones has made people meet less and talk more. One doesn’t care to meet a friend who stays just yards away; they rather just chat over phone or comment on social media account.
• Time wastage: Now day’s people have developed an addiction to the mobile phones. As mobile phones became smarter, people became dumber. People are habitual of surfing the internet, even when they don’t need to.
• Causes Ailments: Long exposure to mobile phones, stresses our eyes, brain and other organs resulting in various kind of ailments. Staring long hours on the screen, results in damage of eye sight, stress and headache along with sleeplessness and dizziness.
• Loss of Privacy: Use of mobile phones for various purposes has resulted in compromising the privacy of the user. Today anyone could easily access the information like where you live, who are your friends and family, what is your business, where is your house etc; by just easily browsing through your social media account.
• Money Drain: As grew the usefulness of the mobile phones so grew their purchasing and maintenance cost. Today people are spending a good amount of money on buying smart phones, which could rather be spent on more useful things like education.

A mobile phone could both be an advantage or a disadvantage; depending on how it is used by the prospective user. While used only when needed, it is of course an advantage, but when used beyond a certain limit or for a totally different purpose for which it intended to, it is definitely a disadvantage.

Essay on Mobile Phones in 600 Words – Importance in Our Life

Mobile phones are a useful gadget for our every day chorus. Gone were the days when mobile phones were only used for communication purposes. Today, they are used for various purposes in our daily life and have become an inseparable asset.

Mobile Phone Importance in Daily Life

There are several advantages of mobile phones in our daily life. Some of the major advantages are listed below-

• Keep connected: The most significant importance of mobile phones is that, they keep us connected to our friends, relatives and others. You can talk video chat with whoever you want, by just operating your mobile phone or smart phone. Imagine shuttling between office and home to know the where about of your family and friends. Today, you can stay up to date about the school timing of your kid’s school on your phone.
• Every day commuting: Mobile phones have become useful for every day commuting. Today, one can assess the live traffic situation on mobile phone and take appropriate decisions to reach on time. Many apps provide navigation assistance to a stranded driver or someone who wants to get to a particular place.
• Keeps Us Informed: Applying for jobs, sharing your Curriculum Vitae has become so easy with the use of mobile phones. With 24 hours access to the internet, there is no time boundation and you can apply for a new job, even in the middle of night. Apart from it, one also has a 24/7 access to the developments around the world.
• Provides Entertainment: Another daily use importance of mobile phone is that it can be used as an entertainment device. Whenever we get bored of routine work or during the breaks, there are a number of things you could do on your smart phone to relax. One can listen to music, watch movies or just watch the video of one’s favorite song.
• Security Device: For daily commuters, mobile phones could be a blessing in disguise. They are handy and easy to be carried around in pockets. Every city commuter today has a mobile phone in his/her pocket or bag. They could be really useful gadgets in case of emergency. Relatives, friends as well as emergency services could be easily and instantly contacted when needed.
• Managing Tasks: Mobile Phones today have become smarter and are used every day for a number of official purposes. Today they are used for managing everyday tasks like – meeting schedules, sending and receiving documents, giving presentations, alarms etc. Mobile phones have become an essential gadget for every office goer.
• Take Photographs: Taking photographs has become a craze due to the advancement in mobile phone technology. Today mobile phones come equipped with high resolution cameras. Any picture could be easily taken and instantly uploaded over social media and other accounts. It helps us our family and friends to stay connected with the developments in our daily life.
• Mobile Banking and Payment: This is another significance of mobile phones in our everyday life. Today, sending or receiving money has become easier as never before. Money could be transferred almost instantly to friends, relatives or others by using mobile baking in the smart phone. Also one could easily access his/her account details and know past transactions. The transactions have become much convenient with the use of mobile phones, which would rather have required a visit to the bank.

There are innumerable ways in which a mobile phone could be useful in our everyday life. It keeps us updated of the developments around, stay us connected, entertain us, help us find job and opportunities etc. Besides, there are hundreds of utilities that could be used to make life easy and entertaining as well. But, despite all the importance that a mobile phone has, it is advisable to use it only on purpose and not misuse or over use it.

Below are the list of related essay available at IL

Essay on Mobile Phone FAQs

What is a mobile phone in your own words.

A mobile phone is a small device that lets us talk to people, send messages, and use apps. It's like a tiny computer we can carry in our pocket.

What is the role of mobile phone in our life?

The mobile phone plays a big role in our lives. It helps us stay connected with family and friends, work from anywhere, get information quickly, and even have fun with games and apps.

What are the uses of mobile phone in English speech?

In an English speech, a mobile phone can be used to record our voice, play helpful audios, or even read from notes. It's a handy tool for practicing and delivering speeches.

What is the benefit of mobile?

Mobile phones offer many benefits. They keep us connected, provide information, entertain us with music and videos, and help with tasks like shopping, banking, and learning.

Why mobile is important for students?

Mobile phones are important for students because they can help with learning. Students can access study apps, research online, connect with classmates, and even attend online classes using their phones.

How mobile phone changed our life?

Mobile phones have changed our lives by making communication instant, providing endless information at our fingertips, and offering tools for work, study, and entertainment. Life has become more convenient and connected because of them.

Do phones affect mental health?

Yes, phones can affect mental health. Spending too much time on them or constantly checking for messages can increase stress. It's essential to take breaks and use phones in a balanced way.

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Essay on Disadvantages and Advantages of Mobile Phones

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Mobile Phones have become an integral part of our day-to-day life. Teaching children to use their phones more thoughtfully can benefit them in both their personal and academic lives and help them become more effective citizens of society.

A mobile phone is a personal communication device that uses a wireless connection to do various functions such as sending and receiving messages, making and receiving calls, and accessing the internet. This article will help the readers to have an overview of the examples of different types of essays on the topic “Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phones”.

Let’s dive right in.

Table of Content

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phone Essay 100 words

200 words essay on advantages and disadvantages of mobile phone, advantages and disadvantages of mobile phone essay 300 words, advantages of mobile phone, disadvantages of mobile phone, 10 lines essay on advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones.

There are advantages and disadvantages to mobile phones. First, let’s discuss the positive aspects. Our mobile phones facilitate easy communication with friends and family. With our phones, we may use the internet to discover new things as well. With their maps, they make it easy for us to locate our route, and we can even snap photos with them.

However, there are also some drawbacks. Overuse of phones by some individuals can be problematic. It might cause eye pain or even make it difficult to fall asleep. Furthermore, excessive phone use might cause us to lose focus when driving or walking, which is risky.

Thus, we must use our phones responsibly. It’s important to remember to take pauses and not use them excessively. Similar to consuming candy, moderation is key when it comes to this. Utilizing our phones sensibly may make them enjoyable and beneficial. However, we must exercise caution so as not to allow them to cause us issues.

With so many benefits, mobile phones have become an essential part of our life. They facilitate communication and let us stay in touch with loved ones no matter where we are or when we want. Additionally, mobile phones offer instant access to information, which keeps us up to date on global events. They are also useful for navigation, taking pictures to save memories, and even handling our money using mobile banking.

But there are also some disadvantages to these advantages. Overuse of a phone can become addictive, diverting our attention and decreasing our productivity. Extended periods of screen usage can lead to health problems like strained eyes and disturbed sleep cycles. Other drawbacks include privacy issues and the possibility of cyberbullying, which emphasise how crucial it is to use mobile phones properly.

In conclusion, even while mobile phones are incredibly beneficial for communication, information access, and convenience, it is important to consider the possible risks they may pose to one’s health, privacy, and general well-being. Maintaining a balance in the use of mobile phones is crucial to maximise their benefits while minimising their drawbacks.

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Mobile phones also referred to as cell phones, are now an essential component of our everyday existence. As with every technology, they have disadvantages in addition to their many advantages.

• Earning Money: People can investigate flexible job choices by using mobile technology, which offers potential for generating revenue through a variety of channels, including freelance work, online markets, and gig economy applications .
• Navigation: Cell phones with built-in GPS technology make travelling easier by making it simple for users to get directions, explore new areas, and successfully navigate uncharted territory.
• Photography: The inclusion of high-quality cameras in mobile phones has made photography more accessible to a wider audience by encouraging innovation, enabling quick moment capture and sharing, and providing a platform for individual expression.
• Safety: Cell phones help people stay safe because they give them a way to communicate in an emergency, ask for assistance, get in touch with authorities, and keep aware of their surroundings.
• Health Problems: Extended usage of mobile phones is linked to possible long-term health hazards resulting from continuous exposure to radiofrequency radiation, as well as physical health problems such as soreness in the neck and back.
• Cyber Bullying: Cell phones provide people with a platform to harass, threaten, or disseminate damaging information online, which puts the victims’ mental health in serious danger.
• Road Accidents: Cell phone usage while driving increases the risk of distracted driving and traffic accidents, endangering the safety of both pedestrians and drivers.
• Noise & Disturbance: M obile phone use may cause noise pollution in public areas, which can disrupt the peace and discomfort of others. This includes loud phone conversations, notification noises, and other mobile phone-related disruptions.
• Easy Communication: Instantaneous and convenient communication is made possible by cell phones, which also develop real-time connections and bridge geographical distances, improving interpersonal relationships and job productivity.
• Online Education: Since the development of mobile technology, more people have had access to educational materials than ever before, which enables them to pursue online courses, pick up new skills, and engage in lifelong learning at their own speed.
• Social Connectivity: Through the use of various social media platforms, cell phones enable social engagement and networking, keeping individuals in touch with friends, family, and coworkers and promoting a feeling of community and shared experiences.
• Banking & Transactions: The ease with which users may manage their accounts, transfer money, and complete transactions is made possible by mobile banking applications, which lessen the need for in-person bank visits and increase overall financial accessibility.
• Promoting Buisness: Cell phones are effective instruments for marketing, communication, and company promotion. They let companies advertise to a wider audience, interact creatively with clients, and promote their goods and services.
• Entertainment: Mobile phones have completely changed the entertainment sector by giving consumers access to a vast array of games, streaming services, and multimedia material that can be enjoyed while on the go.
• Emergency Assistance: When it comes to emergency circumstances, cell phones are invaluable since they provide prompt access to emergency services, facilitate communication during emergencies, and serve as a lifeline for those in need of rapid aid.
• Addiction & Distraction: Cell phone addiction may result from excessive use, which also makes people easily distracted, reduces productivity, and lessens in-person social contacts.
• Sleeping Disorders: Due to the blue light that cell phones emit, prolonged use of them, especially right before bed, can interfere with sleep cycles, impair the generation of melatonin, and worsen insomnia and other sleeping problems.
• Hearing issues: Long-term exposure to high decibel levels via headphones or phone conversations can cause hearing issues, such as loss or impairment of hearing, and pose a serious risk to the health of the auditory system.
• Vision Problems: Digital eye strain, which can result in symptoms including dry eyes, headaches, and impaired vision, may be exacerbated by excessive cell phone screen usage. This condition may eventually cause long-term visual issues.
• Privacy & Security Risks: Since personal data is vulnerable to hacking, unauthorised access, and abuse, there is a danger to both individuals and organisations while using mobile phones, which has led to worries about privacy breaches and security threats.
• Wastage of Time: Using mobile phones excessively for unproductive purposes, including endlessly browsing social media or playing games, may lead to a major time waster that interferes with both personal and professional obligations.

The below are the 10 lines on advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones in English:

• Mobile phones help us talk to friends and family easily.
• They provide quick access to information through the internet.
• Mobiles make it easy to find our way using maps and GPS.
• We can capture memories with cameras on our phones.
• Banking and managing money is convenient with mobile apps.
• Mobiles offer entertainment with games and videos.
• Using phones too much can be bad for our health.
• It might disturb our sleep and hurt our eyes.
• Too much phone use can be a distraction and affect our work.
• Privacy can be at risk, and there might be issues like cyberbullying.

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FAQs on Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phones Essay

What are the advantages of using mobile phones.

The advantages of using mobile phones are that they make our lives easier. They help us in easy communication, online education, banking and transactions, safety, emergency assistance etc.

What are the disadvantages of using mobile phones?

Some disadvantages of using mobile phones include addiction & distractions, sleeping disorders, hearing aids, noise & disturbance, wastage of time etc.

Why are mobile phones important?

Mobile phones are very important nowadays because they make an individual’s life more convenient and are the perfect way to stay connected with everyone.

How does using mobile phones affect an individual’s brain?

Research from the US National Institute of Health indicates that using a cell phone damages our brains. According to their findings, our brains utilise more sugar after every fifty minutes of phone usage. This is because sugar is an indicator of increased activity, which is detrimental for the brain.

What are the advantages of phone and disadvantages of phone?

Mobile phones offer communication and provide us the access to enormous information, but at the same time they can be addictive, cause distractions and invade our privacy.

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Essay on Mobile Phone

In this short essay on mobile phone, kids can understand the advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones. Mobile phones have become a vital tool in our day-to-day lives. If we can teach kids to be more mindful about how and when they use their phones, it will help them in their academic and personal lives and make them better citizens of society. A mobile phone is a personal communication device used to make and receive calls, send and receive messages, access the internet and perform other tasks via a wireless connection. Mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives. They have created a world where everything is possible, and also enhanced the communication speed drastically. In the future, mobile phones will continue to evolve and change the way people interact in society.

Advantages of Mobile Phones

Mobile phones have become much more than just a communication device. We can now use them to make payments, take pictures, and even order food. In this essay on mobile phone, kids will understand its merits and demerits.

A mobile phone makes our lives easier. It can be used for work/business purposes, attending online classes, entertainment, or just talking with friends and family members. Modern smartphones have many useful features. They also have a high-speed internet connection that helps us get what we need quickly and easily.

Mobile phones can be used as an alternative to laptops and desktops because they are much more compact and lightweight than their counterparts and are portable.

Mobile phones have made communication more accessible than ever before. Mobile phones have encouraged a whole new way of doing things, including taking photos, videos, attending online classes, etc. The latest news and all kinds of information that help in knowledge building are available at students’ fingertips. Mobile phones these days have the capability to do nearly everything computers can do. Students use mobile phones to write assignments and create presentations. Most mobile phones have advanced video and picture editing capabilities that allow children to showcase their creative talents.

Disadvantages of Mobile Phones

Every electronic device we use has its pros and cons. Similarly, mobile phones too are dangerous for kids when used excessively. Here are some reasons that help you understand the disadvantages of mobile phones:

Mobile phone addiction is becoming a massive issue as people spend too much time scrolling through screens rather than interacting with the people around them. Additionally, mobile phones are a big distraction for students, and their addiction can affect their ability to concentrate on their studies.

It is not so healthy to be constantly connected to social media on your phone. It can cause you to miss the necessary routine of your life and lead you to follow an unhealthy lifestyle. Mobile phone usage and addiction have increased mental health diseases, like anxiety, depression and other mental disorders.

It is very easy for children to give out personal information or view inappropriate content on the phone. Hence, it is suggested that parents should be mindful and attentive when kids use mobile phones.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of using mobile phones.

The advantages of using mobile phones are that they make our lives easier. Modern smartphones have many useful features. It can be used for work, attending online classes, entertainment, or just talking with friends and family. They also have a high-speed internet connection that helps us get what we need quickly and easily.

What are the disadvantages of using mobile phones?

One of the disadvantages of using mobile phones is that addiction is becoming a massive issue as people spend too much time scrolling through screens rather than interacting with the people around them. Additionally, mobile phones are a big distraction for students, and their addiction can affect their ability to concentrate on their studies.

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Mobile Phone Essays

Are mobiles dangerous? Are they necessary?

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Mobile Phones and Children

by Rony (Egypt )

The dangers and complexities of the modern world have made the mobile phone an absolute necessity for children. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Last years have witnessed an increase in the number of threats and problems that unusually endangered children. In spite of being convinced that mobile phone might serve securing the child, I don't think it is an absolute importance. To start with the troublesome situations that might face the child to see how mobile phone could help him. First of all, threats that might endanger the child; kidnapping trials: the child could talk to his parents, or call for the police using his own portable phone, or falling in an emergency situation, like diabetic coma or asthmatic attacks Or getting wounded in the street he could also call his parents or ambulance. Second, complexities, that might be encountered these days, are for instance; getting lost while going school or home alone in this case making a call to his parents seeking help is very beneficial. Some new mobiles has many beneficial applications like maps, how to make fast foods in the absence of working parents, these apps would give a hand to children. To sum up, while complicated and threatening situations facing the child these days are rising, and mobile phones helpful applications and uses are increasing, I don't think that it is a must to give every child a mobile phone. As, this also, has its drawbacks on children, and not every family is leaving her child to face these problems alone. *** Is this a good essay? You can comment below on this Mobile Phone Essay.

can someone please proof read my answer to: The dangers and complexities of the modern world have made the mobile phone an absolute necessity for children. To what extent do you agree or disagree? The ever changing society we live in these days is unfortunately acclaimed with increasing rates of crime making it a very unsafe place to live in for everyone. children safety is compromised where disturbing offences such as abduction and any kinds of abuse are more prevalent thee days. Due to this reason, the use of mobile phones particularly by children, have been considered as a must to address this issue. Parents or guardians nowadays have supplied their own children with mobile phones as a means of a safety reassuring device. Both parties benefit more from the technical use of a mobile phone especially in conditions we live, where dangers can arise at any point in time. Should safety be compromised from children, they can easily contact their parents or other members within the family, and other appropriate persons, such as the police, who is also concerned of their well being. This easy communication access, allows for relatives or the receiver on the line to act for safety in a timely manner. Furthermore, parents have the ease of mind to their children's whereabouts. The high technology of mobile phones allow them to easily contact or be informed with updates about their children's day. On the other hand, I believe such device is not a necessity for children in surviving this world evolved with crimes and complexities. Firstly, education can be provided to the young ones in regards to safety practices. This refers to knowing who can be trusted and not associating to strangers, never be physically in isolation and must be in large groups, and last but not least, informing them of where and who to go for safety, such as teachers, councillors or the police. These are very simple and cost effective, yet very effective ways in minimising and preventing dangers that can happen to children. Secondly, it is understandably important for parents to be aware of their children's day, however, constant communication which is considered as vital, can also interfere with these children's development of independence. Lastly, the use of mobile phones open endless opportunities of social and online gaming use, which can impact their interpersonal skills with other people and predispose them to violence. Evidently children are potentially imposed to dangers with their use of mobile phones. To conclude, although the device provide security for children while living in a troublesome and complicated world, I strongly believe it is unnecessary and inappropriate for children to own a mobile phone. Education and proper guidance should be provided for these children in order to live safely in this kind of environment we live in. GREATLY APPRECIATED IF YOU GUYS COMMENT ON IT ... :)

Cell Phones in the Classroom

by Deepak (Kathmandu)

It is argued that mobile phones and other electronic devices have no place in the classroom. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view? In the last decade, cell phones have become very famous and easily available throughout the world. Most of the students from across the globe have access to smartphones and they have been using these gadgets not only for study purposes but also for personal uses. However, I believe, the mobile phones should not be used inside the classroom because it distracts the pupils and also affect the effective interaction. One of the main reasons for not allowing mobile phones during the studying in classes is it hampers the student’s concentration. As a result, the student doesn’t understand the subject matter and gets poor grades in his mark sheet. For example, during my final year of undergraduate studies, there was a good student named Hari who failed in his favourite subject because of mobile chatting during the lecture times. So, to make a student distract less from mobile phones, these kinds of electronic devices should be kept out of the classroom. Another reason is a disturbance in proper discussion between teacher and students. Although the student can browse various sites using mobile data or Wi-Fi to get the information about subject matters in the classroom but he might lack to the point knowledge from his experienced teachers. In addition, he might waste too much time visiting the non-authentic sites. For instance, there are many personal blogs and websites where the student cannot get the relevant understanding of the subject matters. All in all, despite having a few advantages of using the mobile devices inside the classrooms, the students must not be allowed to use their cell phones to have the long-term good results for their studies and careers. Furthermore, this maintains good learning and teaching environment for both the students and teachers. *** Please help this students in their with their writing by feeding back on this IELTS Essay about Cell Phones in the Classroom.

Necessity of Mobile Phones Essay

by syed (Malaysia)

The dangers and complexities of the modern world have made the mobile phone an absolute necessity for children. To what extent do you agree or disagree? I agree that cellphones rather than an expensive commodity, is a must have for today's children as its function is not only for communication, but it also allows access to the worldwide web. Education has become more centralised and available for everyone online. In order to access information easily and rapidly, owning a cellphone is necessary. In the advent of technology, internet access is critical for knowledge, especially in the midst of current covid pandemic where tutorials are made online. Children no longer go to school, rather teachers expect every student to have at least a cellphone in order to access online classes. Increasing crime rate in the society and bullying in school have made children vulnerable to these perpetrators. Parents are not always there to supervise their kids, hence, cellphones allows children to contact family members when in danger without delay. Without cellphones, help might not be able to be attained immediately. However, unregulated access to the internet with the lack of supervision can lead to children browsing inappropriate content. Many studies have found that increase in time spent on screen has many negative impacts.Children lack fundamental communication skills. Dyslexia is also another common theme.Usage of mobile phone in the dark can lead to sleep disturbances, which can hamper children's concentrating ability in school. Owning a cellphone has become a necessity in the 21st century as it has many benefits. However,lack pf supervision can have a detrimental effect towards these children.

IELTS Essay - Necessity of Mobile Phones for Children

by Lalarukh

The dangers and complexities of the modern world have made the mobile phone an absolute necessity for children. To what extent do you agree or disagree? These days, there is an ongoing debate between people about how mobile phone have become a need for children due to the intense situation of the new era. While some people still argue that mobile phone have become an absolute need of a child, in my view, the disadvantages of mobile phone outweigh the advantages. In this essay i will explain my point of view by analysing both sides. These are several reason that i believe have cause more harm to children of keeping mobile phone then giving them benefit. Firstly, children spend much more time on cellphones rather than participating in other activities. It takes away precious time of sports and other recreational activities. Also, it affects the eye sight of the children. Many studies have shown that children who spend much more time on mobile phone have weak eye sight and thus end up wearing sight glasses at a very young age. Moreover, the more children spend time on mobile phone, the less exposure they have of the outer world. This reduces self confidence in children while dealing with people and socialising on a larger extent. From my personal experience, i would quote about my niece, who at a very young age have been given mobile phone. She spends majority of her time on games due to which she interacts less with the people around. Lastly, the use of mobile phone have damaged the mind of many children. The unnecessary or wrong use have made children exposed to certain objectionable things at a very young age. For example, there exist many application that are not for children under 18 years, but with mobile phone, children do have easy access to it. Now those who argue that due to the danger in the modern world have resulted the use of mobile phones claims that for the purpose of security it have become basic necessity. With fast moving education system, children have academies, schools and universities to go so with the help of mobile phone there remains a constant communication between the parent and a child. While, there is strong opinion on both sides of the case in my opinion, children still must be given mobile phone until a certain age. I would recommend that for the purpose of security due to the danger presiding in the outside world, the use of mobile phone can be allowed only in the hours of school, college etc or during travelling. Also, a strict check must be kept by the parents on usage of mobile phone .

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Restricted Use of Mobile Phones Essay

by Aditya (Uttar Pradesh)

Some schools have restricted the use of mobile phones. Is this a positive or negative development? Students of most schools carry cell phones with them. While these devices play a vital role in safety, connectedness and convenience, a number of schools have prohibited their use on campus. In my opinion, this is a positive decision and can benefit students not academically but also physically and socially as well. Restricting phone use in the classroom itself can improve learning. Uninterrupted studies can result in exceptional results as the primary focus remains on the subject. A continuously ringing or beeping device, for instance, can distract both teacher and student as well as other learners too and also amplifies the urge of the individual to check their phone every now and then for texts, calls and other notifications. Even the most observant teacher cannot ignore them from sneakily checking their messages or scrolling through irrelevant content mid-class. This eventually leads to imperfect knowledge which can adversely affect an individual's academic progress since half knowledge possess no value. Banning cell phones can prevent happening of these events and can bolster the academic performance of learners. In addition to banning phones in the classroom, constraining them outside the classroom as well can result in students wellbeing. Indeed, if cellular phone are banned at recess, children will be left with no other option than to interact with other students and indulge in numerous physical activities. Kids can play games, sports, or just sit and chat with their friends which is far better than sitting alone hunched over a screen. Without limitation enforced by schools, children simply cannot draw the line on their phone use. These social and physical gains are only possible with stern phone rules. In conclusion, despite cell-phones are a fundamental part of our modern lives, I strongly deem that their use in schools should be controlled. With firm boundaries and bans in some conditions, students are able to learn better, build up friendships and engage in healthier pursuits.

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End the Phone-Based Childhood Now

The environment in which kids grow up today is hostile to human development.

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S omething went suddenly and horribly wrong for adolescents in the early 2010s. By now you’ve likely seen the statistics : Rates of depression and anxiety in the United States—fairly stable in the 2000s—rose by more than 50 percent in many studies from 2010 to 2019. The suicide rate rose 48 percent for adolescents ages 10 to 19. For girls ages 10 to 14, it rose 131 percent.

The problem was not limited to the U.S.: Similar patterns emerged around the same time in Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand , the Nordic countries , and beyond . By a variety of measures and in a variety of countries, the members of Generation Z (born in and after 1996) are suffering from anxiety, depression, self-harm, and related disorders at levels higher than any other generation for which we have data.

The decline in mental health is just one of many signs that something went awry. Loneliness and friendlessness among American teens began to surge around 2012. Academic achievement went down, too. According to “The Nation’s Report Card,” scores in reading and math began to decline for U.S. students after 2012, reversing decades of slow but generally steady increase. PISA, the major international measure of educational trends, shows that declines in math, reading, and science happened globally, also beginning in the early 2010s.

Read: It sure looks like phones are making students dumber

As the oldest members of Gen Z reach their late 20s, their troubles are carrying over into adulthood. Young adults are dating less , having less sex, and showing less interest in ever having children than prior generations. They are more likely to live with their parents. They were less likely to get jobs as teens , and managers say they are harder to work with. Many of these trends began with earlier generations, but most of them accelerated with Gen Z.

Surveys show that members of Gen Z are shyer and more risk averse than previous generations, too, and risk aversion may make them less ambitious. In an interview last May , OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman and Stripe co-founder Patrick Collison noted that, for the first time since the 1970s, none of Silicon Valley’s preeminent entrepreneurs are under 30. “Something has really gone wrong,” Altman said. In a famously young industry, he was baffled by the sudden absence of great founders in their 20s.

Generations are not monolithic, of course. Many young people are flourishing. Taken as a whole, however, Gen Z is in poor mental health and is lagging behind previous generations on many important metrics. And if a generation is doing poorly––if it is more anxious and depressed and is starting families, careers, and important companies at a substantially lower rate than previous generations––then the sociological and economic consequences will be profound for the entire society.

What happened in the early 2010s that altered adolescent development and worsened mental health? Theories abound , but the fact that similar trends are found in many countries worldwide means that events and trends that are specific to the United States cannot be the main story.

I think the answer can be stated simply, although the underlying psychology is complex: Those were the years when adolescents in rich countries traded in their flip phones for smartphones and moved much more of their social lives online—particularly onto social-media platforms designed for virality and addiction . Once young people began carrying the entire internet in their pockets, available to them day and night, it altered their daily experiences and developmental pathways across the board. Friendship, dating, sexuality, exercise, sleep, academics, politics, family dynamics, identity—all were affected. Life changed rapidly for younger children, too, as they began to get access to their parents’ smartphones and, later, got their own iPads, laptops, and even smartphones during elementary school.

Jonathan Haidt: Get phones out of schools now

Related Podcast

As a social psychologist who has long studied social and moral development, I have been involved in debates about the effects of digital technology for years. Typically, the scientific questions have been framed somewhat narrowly, to make them easier to address with data. For example, do adolescents who consume more social media have higher levels of depression? Does using a smartphone just before bedtime interfere with sleep? The answer to these questions is usually found to be yes, although the size of the relationship is often statistically small, which has led some researchers to conclude that these new technologies are not responsible for the gigantic increases in mental illness that began in the early 2010s.

But before we can evaluate the evidence on any one potential avenue of harm, we need to step back and ask a broader question: What is childhood––including adolescence––and how did it change when smartphones moved to the center of it? If we take a more holistic view of what childhood is and what young children, tweens, and teens need to do to mature into competent adults, the picture becomes much clearer. Smartphone-based life, it turns out, alters or interferes with a great number of developmental processes.

The intrusion of smartphones and social media are not the only changes that have deformed childhood. There’s an important backstory, beginning as long ago as the 1980s, when we started systematically depriving children and adolescents of freedom, unsupervised play, responsibility, and opportunities for risk taking, all of which promote competence, maturity, and mental health. But the change in childhood accelerated in the early 2010s, when an already independence-deprived generation was lured into a new virtual universe that seemed safe to parents but in fact is more dangerous, in many respects, than the physical world.

My claim is that the new phone-based childhood that took shape roughly 12 years ago is making young people sick and blocking their progress to flourishing in adulthood. We need a dramatic cultural correction, and we need it now.

Brain development is sometimes said to be “experience-expectant,” because specific parts of the brain show increased plasticity during periods of life when an animal’s brain can “expect” to have certain kinds of experiences. You can see this with baby geese, who will imprint on whatever mother-sized object moves in their vicinity just after they hatch. You can see it with human children, who are able to learn languages quickly and take on the local accent, but only through early puberty; after that, it’s hard to learn a language and sound like a native speaker. There is also some evidence of a sensitive period for cultural learning more generally. Japanese children who spent a few years in California in the 1970s came to feel “American” in their identity and ways of interacting only if they attended American schools for a few years between ages 9 and 15. If they left before age 9, there was no lasting impact. If they didn’t arrive until they were 15, it was too late; they didn’t come to feel American.

Human childhood is an extended cultural apprenticeship with different tasks at different ages all the way through puberty. Once we see it this way, we can identify factors that promote or impede the right kinds of learning at each age. For children of all ages, one of the most powerful drivers of learning is the strong motivation to play. Play is the work of childhood, and all young mammals have the same job: to wire up their brains by playing vigorously and often, practicing the moves and skills they’ll need as adults. Kittens will play-pounce on anything that looks like a mouse tail. Human children will play games such as tag and sharks and minnows, which let them practice both their predator skills and their escaping-from-predator skills. Adolescents will play sports with greater intensity, and will incorporate playfulness into their social interactions—flirting, teasing, and developing inside jokes that bond friends together. Hundreds of studies on young rats, monkeys, and humans show that young mammals want to play, need to play, and end up socially, cognitively, and emotionally impaired when they are deprived of play .

One crucial aspect of play is physical risk taking. Children and adolescents must take risks and fail—often—in environments in which failure is not very costly. This is how they extend their abilities, overcome their fears, learn to estimate risk, and learn to cooperate in order to take on larger challenges later. The ever-present possibility of getting hurt while running around, exploring, play-fighting, or getting into a real conflict with another group adds an element of thrill, and thrilling play appears to be the most effective kind for overcoming childhood anxieties and building social, emotional, and physical competence. The desire for risk and thrill increases in the teen years, when failure might carry more serious consequences. Children of all ages need to choose the risk they are ready for at a given moment. Young people who are deprived of opportunities for risk taking and independent exploration will, on average, develop into more anxious and risk-averse adults .

From the April 2014 issue: The overprotected kid

Human childhood and adolescence evolved outdoors, in a physical world full of dangers and opportunities. Its central activities––play, exploration, and intense socializing––were largely unsupervised by adults, allowing children to make their own choices, resolve their own conflicts, and take care of one another. Shared adventures and shared adversity bound young people together into strong friendship clusters within which they mastered the social dynamics of small groups, which prepared them to master bigger challenges and larger groups later on.

And then we changed childhood.

The changes started slowly in the late 1970s and ’80s, before the arrival of the internet, as many parents in the U.S. grew fearful that their children would be harmed or abducted if left unsupervised. Such crimes have always been extremely rare, but they loomed larger in parents’ minds thanks in part to rising levels of street crime combined with the arrival of cable TV, which enabled round-the-clock coverage of missing-children cases. A general decline in social capital ––the degree to which people knew and trusted their neighbors and institutions–– exacerbated parental fears . Meanwhile, rising competition for college admissions encouraged more intensive forms of parenting . In the 1990s, American parents began pulling their children indoors or insisting that afternoons be spent in adult-run enrichment activities. Free play, independent exploration, and teen-hangout time declined.

In recent decades, seeing unchaperoned children outdoors has become so novel that when one is spotted in the wild, some adults feel it is their duty to call the police. In 2015, the Pew Research Center found that parents, on average, believed that children should be at least 10 years old to play unsupervised in front of their house, and that kids should be 14 before being allowed to go unsupervised to a public park. Most of these same parents had enjoyed joyous and unsupervised outdoor play by the age of 7 or 8.

But overprotection is only part of the story. The transition away from a more independent childhood was facilitated by steady improvements in digital technology, which made it easier and more inviting for young people to spend a lot more time at home, indoors, and alone in their rooms. Eventually, tech companies got access to children 24/7. They developed exciting virtual activities, engineered for “engagement,” that are nothing like the real-world experiences young brains evolved to expect.

The first wave came ashore in the 1990s with the arrival of dial-up internet access, which made personal computers good for something beyond word processing and basic games. By 2003, 55 percent of American households had a computer with (slow) internet access. Rates of adolescent depression, loneliness, and other measures of poor mental health did not rise in this first wave. If anything, they went down a bit. Millennial teens (born 1981 through 1995), who were the first to go through puberty with access to the internet, were psychologically healthier and happier, on average, than their older siblings or parents in Generation X (born 1965 through 1980).

The second wave began to rise in the 2000s, though its full force didn’t hit until the early 2010s. It began rather innocently with the introduction of social-media platforms that helped people connect with their friends. Posting and sharing content became much easier with sites such as Friendster (launched in 2003), Myspace (2003), and Facebook (2004).

Teens embraced social media soon after it came out, but the time they could spend on these sites was limited in those early years because the sites could only be accessed from a computer, often the family computer in the living room. Young people couldn’t access social media (and the rest of the internet) from the school bus, during class time, or while hanging out with friends outdoors. Many teens in the early-to-mid-2000s had cellphones, but these were basic phones (many of them flip phones) that had no internet access. Typing on them was difficult––they had only number keys. Basic phones were tools that helped Millennials meet up with one another in person or talk with each other one-on-one. I have seen no evidence to suggest that basic cellphones harmed the mental health of Millennials.

It was not until the introduction of the iPhone (2007), the App Store (2008), and high-speed internet (which reached 50 percent of American homes in 2007 )—and the corresponding pivot to mobile made by many providers of social media, video games, and porn—that it became possible for adolescents to spend nearly every waking moment online. The extraordinary synergy among these innovations was what powered the second technological wave. In 2011, only 23 percent of teens had a smartphone. By 2015, that number had risen to 73 percent , and a quarter of teens said they were online “almost constantly.” Their younger siblings in elementary school didn’t usually have their own smartphones, but after its release in 2010, the iPad quickly became a staple of young children’s daily lives. It was in this brief period, from 2010 to 2015, that childhood in America (and many other countries) was rewired into a form that was more sedentary, solitary, virtual, and incompatible with healthy human development.

In the 2000s, Silicon Valley and its world-changing inventions were a source of pride and excitement in America. Smart and ambitious young people around the world wanted to move to the West Coast to be part of the digital revolution. Tech-company founders such as Steve Jobs and Sergey Brin were lauded as gods, or at least as modern Prometheans, bringing humans godlike powers. The Arab Spring bloomed in 2011 with the help of decentralized social platforms, including Twitter and Facebook. When pundits and entrepreneurs talked about the power of social media to transform society, it didn’t sound like a dark prophecy.

You have to put yourself back in this heady time to understand why adults acquiesced so readily to the rapid transformation of childhood. Many parents had concerns , even then, about what their children were doing online, especially because of the internet’s ability to put children in contact with strangers. But there was also a lot of excitement about the upsides of this new digital world. If computers and the internet were the vanguards of progress, and if young people––widely referred to as “digital natives”––were going to live their lives entwined with these technologies, then why not give them a head start? I remember how exciting it was to see my 2-year-old son master the touch-and-swipe interface of my first iPhone in 2008. I thought I could see his neurons being woven together faster as a result of the stimulation it brought to his brain, compared to the passivity of watching television or the slowness of building a block tower. I thought I could see his future job prospects improving.

Touchscreen devices were also a godsend for harried parents. Many of us discovered that we could have peace at a restaurant, on a long car trip, or at home while making dinner or replying to emails if we just gave our children what they most wanted: our smartphones and tablets. We saw that everyone else was doing it and figured it must be okay.

It was the same for older children, desperate to join their friends on social-media platforms, where the minimum age to open an account was set by law to 13, even though no research had been done to establish the safety of these products for minors. Because the platforms did nothing (and still do nothing) to verify the stated age of new-account applicants, any 10-year-old could open multiple accounts without parental permission or knowledge, and many did. Facebook and later Instagram became places where many sixth and seventh graders were hanging out and socializing. If parents did find out about these accounts, it was too late. Nobody wanted their child to be isolated and alone, so parents rarely forced their children to shut down their accounts.

We had no idea what we were doing.

The numbers are hard to believe. The most recent Gallup data show that American teens spend about five hours a day just on social-media platforms (including watching videos on TikTok and YouTube). Add in all the other phone- and screen-based activities, and the number rises to somewhere between seven and nine hours a day, on average . The numbers are even higher in single-parent and low-income families, and among Black, Hispanic, and Native American families.

These very high numbers do not include time spent in front of screens for school or homework, nor do they include all the time adolescents spend paying only partial attention to events in the real world while thinking about what they’re missing on social media or waiting for their phones to ping. Pew reports that in 2022, one-third of teens said they were on one of the major social-media sites “almost constantly,” and nearly half said the same of the internet in general. For these heavy users, nearly every waking hour is an hour absorbed, in full or in part, by their devices.

In Thoreau’s terms, how much of life is exchanged for all this screen time? Arguably, most of it. Everything else in an adolescent’s day must get squeezed down or eliminated entirely to make room for the vast amount of content that is consumed, and for the hundreds of “friends,” “followers,” and other network connections that must be serviced with texts, posts, comments, likes, snaps, and direct messages. I recently surveyed my students at NYU, and most of them reported that the very first thing they do when they open their eyes in the morning is check their texts, direct messages, and social-media feeds. It’s also the last thing they do before they close their eyes at night. And it’s a lot of what they do in between.

The amount of time that adolescents spend sleeping declined in the early 2010s , and many studies tie sleep loss directly to the use of devices around bedtime, particularly when they’re used to scroll through social media . Exercise declined , too, which is unfortunate because exercise, like sleep, improves both mental and physical health. Book reading has been declining for decades, pushed aside by digital alternatives, but the decline, like so much else, sped up in the early 2010 s. With passive entertainment always available, adolescent minds likely wander less than they used to; contemplation and imagination might be placed on the list of things winnowed down or crowded out.

But perhaps the most devastating cost of the new phone-based childhood was the collapse of time spent interacting with other people face-to-face. A study of how Americans spend their time found that, before 2010, young people (ages 15 to 24) reported spending far more time with their friends (about two hours a day, on average, not counting time together at school) than did older people (who spent just 30 to 60 minutes with friends). Time with friends began decreasing for young people in the 2000s, but the drop accelerated in the 2010s, while it barely changed for older people. By 2019, young people’s time with friends had dropped to just 67 minutes a day. It turns out that Gen Z had been socially distancing for many years and had mostly completed the project by the time COVID-19 struck.

Read: What happens when kids don’t see their peers for months

You might question the importance of this decline. After all, isn’t much of this online time spent interacting with friends through texting, social media, and multiplayer video games? Isn’t that just as good?

Some of it surely is, and virtual interactions offer unique benefits too, especially for young people who are geographically or socially isolated. But in general, the virtual world lacks many of the features that make human interactions in the real world nutritious, as we might say, for physical, social, and emotional development. In particular, real-world relationships and social interactions are characterized by four features—typical for hundreds of thousands of years—that online interactions either distort or erase.

First, real-world interactions are embodied , meaning that we use our hands and facial expressions to communicate, and we learn to respond to the body language of others. Virtual interactions, in contrast, mostly rely on language alone. No matter how many emojis are offered as compensation, the elimination of communication channels for which we have eons of evolutionary programming is likely to produce adults who are less comfortable and less skilled at interacting in person.

Second, real-world interactions are synchronous ; they happen at the same time. As a result, we learn subtle cues about timing and conversational turn taking. Synchronous interactions make us feel closer to the other person because that’s what getting “in sync” does. Texts, posts, and many other virtual interactions lack synchrony. There is less real laughter, more room for misinterpretation, and more stress after a comment that gets no immediate response.

Third, real-world interactions primarily involve one‐to‐one communication , or sometimes one-to-several. But many virtual communications are broadcast to a potentially huge audience. Online, each person can engage in dozens of asynchronous interactions in parallel, which interferes with the depth achieved in all of them. The sender’s motivations are different, too: With a large audience, one’s reputation is always on the line; an error or poor performance can damage social standing with large numbers of peers. These communications thus tend to be more performative and anxiety-inducing than one-to-one conversations.

Finally, real-world interactions usually take place within communities that have a high bar for entry and exit , so people are strongly motivated to invest in relationships and repair rifts when they happen. But in many virtual networks, people can easily block others or quit when they are displeased. Relationships within such networks are usually more disposable.

From the September 2015 issue: The coddling of the American mind

These unsatisfying and anxiety-producing features of life online should be recognizable to most adults. Online interactions can bring out antisocial behavior that people would never display in their offline communities. But if life online takes a toll on adults, just imagine what it does to adolescents in the early years of puberty, when their “experience expectant” brains are rewiring based on feedback from their social interactions.

Kids going through puberty online are likely to experience far more social comparison, self-consciousness, public shaming, and chronic anxiety than adolescents in previous generations, which could potentially set developing brains into a habitual state of defensiveness. The brain contains systems that are specialized for approach (when opportunities beckon) and withdrawal (when threats appear or seem likely). People can be in what we might call “discover mode” or “defend mode” at any moment, but generally not both. The two systems together form a mechanism for quickly adapting to changing conditions, like a thermostat that can activate either a heating system or a cooling system as the temperature fluctuates. Some people’s internal thermostats are generally set to discover mode, and they flip into defend mode only when clear threats arise. These people tend to see the world as full of opportunities. They are happier and less anxious. Other people’s internal thermostats are generally set to defend mode, and they flip into discover mode only when they feel unusually safe. They tend to see the world as full of threats and are more prone to anxiety and depressive disorders.

A simple way to understand the differences between Gen Z and previous generations is that people born in and after 1996 have internal thermostats that were shifted toward defend mode. This is why life on college campuses changed so suddenly when Gen Z arrived, beginning around 2014. Students began requesting “safe spaces” and trigger warnings. They were highly sensitive to “microaggressions” and sometimes claimed that words were “violence.” These trends mystified those of us in older generations at the time, but in hindsight, it all makes sense. Gen Z students found words, ideas, and ambiguous social encounters more threatening than had previous generations of students because we had fundamentally altered their psychological development.

Staying on task while sitting at a computer is hard enough for an adult with a fully developed prefrontal cortex. It is far more difficult for adolescents in front of their laptop trying to do homework. They are probably less intrinsically motivated to stay on task. They’re certainly less able, given their undeveloped prefrontal cortex, and hence it’s easy for any company with an app to lure them away with an offer of social validation or entertainment. Their phones are pinging constantly— one study found that the typical adolescent now gets 237 notifications a day, roughly 15 every waking hour. Sustained attention is essential for doing almost anything big, creative, or valuable, yet young people find their attention chopped up into little bits by notifications offering the possibility of high-pleasure, low-effort digital experiences.

It even happens in the classroom. Studies confirm that when students have access to their phones during class time, they use them, especially for texting and checking social media, and their grades and learning suffer . This might explain why benchmark test scores began to decline in the U.S. and around the world in the early 2010s—well before the pandemic hit.

The neural basis of behavioral addiction to social media or video games is not exactly the same as chemical addiction to cocaine or opioids. Nonetheless, they all involve abnormally heavy and sustained activation of dopamine neurons and reward pathways. Over time, the brain adapts to these high levels of dopamine; when the child is not engaged in digital activity, their brain doesn’t have enough dopamine, and the child experiences withdrawal symptoms. These generally include anxiety, insomnia, and intense irritability. Kids with these kinds of behavioral addictions often become surly and aggressive, and withdraw from their families into their bedrooms and devices.

Social-media and gaming platforms were designed to hook users. How successful are they? How many kids suffer from digital addictions?

The main addiction risks for boys seem to be video games and porn. “ Internet gaming disorder ,” which was added to the main diagnosis manual of psychiatry in 2013 as a condition for further study, describes “significant impairment or distress” in several aspects of life, along with many hallmarks of addiction, including an inability to reduce usage despite attempts to do so. Estimates for the prevalence of IGD range from 7 to 15 percent among adolescent boys and young men. As for porn, a nationally representative survey of American adults published in 2019 found that 7 percent of American men agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I am addicted to pornography”—and the rates were higher for the youngest men.

Girls have much lower rates of addiction to video games and porn, but they use social media more intensely than boys do. A study of teens in 29 nations found that between 5 and 15 percent of adolescents engage in what is called “problematic social media use,” which includes symptoms such as preoccupation, withdrawal symptoms, neglect of other areas of life, and lying to parents and friends about time spent on social media. That study did not break down results by gender, but many others have found that rates of “problematic use” are higher for girls.

Jonathan Haidt: The dangerous experiment on teen girls

I don’t want to overstate the risks: Most teens do not become addicted to their phones and video games. But across multiple studies and across genders, rates of problematic use come out in the ballpark of 5 to 15 percent. Is there any other consumer product that parents would let their children use relatively freely if they knew that something like one in 10 kids would end up with a pattern of habitual and compulsive use that disrupted various domains of life and looked a lot like an addiction?

During that crucial sensitive period for cultural learning, from roughly ages 9 through 15, we should be especially thoughtful about who is socializing our children for adulthood. Instead, that’s when most kids get their first smartphone and sign themselves up (with or without parental permission) to consume rivers of content from random strangers. Much of that content is produced by other adolescents, in blocks of a few minutes or a few seconds.

This rerouting of enculturating content has created a generation that is largely cut off from older generations and, to some extent, from the accumulated wisdom of humankind, including knowledge about how to live a flourishing life. Adolescents spend less time steeped in their local or national culture. They are coming of age in a confusing, placeless, ahistorical maelstrom of 30-second stories curated by algorithms designed to mesmerize them. Without solid knowledge of the past and the filtering of good ideas from bad––a process that plays out over many generations––young people will be more prone to believe whatever terrible ideas become popular around them, which might explain why v ideos showing young people reacting positively to Osama bin Laden’s thoughts about America were trending on TikTok last fall.

All this is made worse by the fact that so much of digital public life is an unending supply of micro dramas about somebody somewhere in our country of 340 million people who did something that can fuel an outrage cycle, only to be pushed aside by the next. It doesn’t add up to anything and leaves behind only a distorted sense of human nature and affairs.

When our public life becomes fragmented, ephemeral, and incomprehensible, it is a recipe for anomie, or normlessness. The great French sociologist Émile Durkheim showed long ago that a society that fails to bind its people together with some shared sense of sacredness and common respect for rules and norms is not a society of great individual freedom; it is, rather, a place where disoriented individuals have difficulty setting goals and exerting themselves to achieve them. Durkheim argued that anomie was a major driver of suicide rates in European countries. Modern scholars continue to draw on his work to understand suicide rates today.

Durkheim’s observations are crucial for understanding what happened in the early 2010s. A long-running survey of American teens found that , from 1990 to 2010, high-school seniors became slightly less likely to agree with statements such as “Life often feels meaningless.” But as soon as they adopted a phone-based life and many began to live in the whirlpool of social media, where no stability can be found, every measure of despair increased. From 2010 to 2019, the number who agreed that their lives felt “meaningless” increased by about 70 percent, to more than one in five.

An additional source of evidence comes from Gen Z itself. With all the talk of regulating social media, raising age limits, and getting phones out of schools, you might expect to find many members of Gen Z writing and speaking out in opposition. I’ve looked for such arguments and found hardly any. In contrast, many young adults tell stories of devastation.

Freya India, a 24-year-old British essayist who writes about girls, explains how social-media sites carry girls off to unhealthy places: “It seems like your child is simply watching some makeup tutorials, following some mental health influencers, or experimenting with their identity. But let me tell you: they are on a conveyor belt to someplace bad. Whatever insecurity or vulnerability they are struggling with, they will be pushed further and further into it.” She continues:

Gen Z were the guinea pigs in this uncontrolled global social experiment. We were the first to have our vulnerabilities and insecurities fed into a machine that magnified and refracted them back at us, all the time, before we had any sense of who we were. We didn’t just grow up with algorithms. They raised us. They rearranged our faces. Shaped our identities. Convinced us we were sick.

Rikki Schlott, a 23-year-old American journalist and co-author of The Canceling of the American Mind , writes ,

The day-to-day life of a typical teen or tween today would be unrecognizable to someone who came of age before the smartphone arrived. Zoomers are spending an average of 9 hours daily in this screen-time doom loop—desperate to forget the gaping holes they’re bleeding out of, even if just for … 9 hours a day. Uncomfortable silence could be time to ponder why they’re so miserable in the first place. Drowning it out with algorithmic white noise is far easier.

A 27-year-old man who spent his adolescent years addicted (his word) to video games and pornography sent me this reflection on what that did to him:

I missed out on a lot of stuff in life—a lot of socialization. I feel the effects now: meeting new people, talking to people. I feel that my interactions are not as smooth and fluid as I want. My knowledge of the world (geography, politics, etc.) is lacking. I didn’t spend time having conversations or learning about sports. I often feel like a hollow operating system.

Or consider what Facebook found in a research project involving focus groups of young people, revealed in 2021 by the whistleblower Frances Haugen: “Teens blame Instagram for increases in the rates of anxiety and depression among teens,” an internal document said. “This reaction was unprompted and consistent across all groups.”

How can it be that an entire generation is hooked on consumer products that so few praise and so many ultimately regret using? Because smartphones and especially social media have put members of Gen Z and their parents into a series of collective-action traps. Once you understand the dynamics of these traps, the escape routes become clear.

Social media, in contrast, applies a lot more pressure on nonusers, at a much younger age and in a more insidious way. Once a few students in any middle school lie about their age and open accounts at age 11 or 12, they start posting photos and comments about themselves and other students. Drama ensues. The pressure on everyone else to join becomes intense. Even a girl who knows, consciously, that Instagram can foster beauty obsession, anxiety, and eating disorders might sooner take those risks than accept the seeming certainty of being out of the loop, clueless, and excluded. And indeed, if she resists while most of her classmates do not, she might, in fact, be marginalized, which puts her at risk for anxiety and depression, though via a different pathway than the one taken by those who use social media heavily. In this way, social media accomplishes a remarkable feat: It even harms adolescents who do not use it.

From the May 2022 issue: Jonathan Haidt on why the past 10 years of American life have been uniquely stupid

A recent study led by the University of Chicago economist Leonardo Bursztyn captured the dynamics of the social-media trap precisely. The researchers recruited more than 1,000 college students and asked them how much they’d need to be paid to deactivate their accounts on either Instagram or TikTok for four weeks. That’s a standard economist’s question to try to compute the net value of a product to society. On average, students said they’d need to be paid roughly $50 ($59 for TikTok, $47 for Instagram) to deactivate whichever platform they were asked about. Then the experimenters told the students that they were going to try to get most of the others in their school to deactivate that same platform, offering to pay them to do so as well, and asked, Now how much would you have to be paid to deactivate, if most others did so? The answer, on average, was less than zero. In each case, most students were willing to pay to have that happen.

Social media is all about network effects. Most students are only on it because everyone else is too. Most of them would prefer that nobody be on these platforms. Later in the study, students were asked directly, “Would you prefer to live in a world without Instagram [or TikTok]?” A majority of students said yes––58 percent for each app.

This is the textbook definition of what social scientists call a collective-action problem . It’s what happens when a group would be better off if everyone in the group took a particular action, but each actor is deterred from acting, because unless the others do the same, the personal cost outweighs the benefit. Fishermen considering limiting their catch to avoid wiping out the local fish population are caught in this same kind of trap. If no one else does it too, they just lose profit.

Cigarettes trapped individual smokers with a biological addiction. Social media has trapped an entire generation in a collective-action problem. Early app developers deliberately and knowingly exploited the psychological weaknesses and insecurities of young people to pressure them to consume a product that, upon reflection, many wish they could use less, or not at all.

The trap here is that each child thinks they need a smartphone because “everyone else” has one, and many parents give in because they don’t want their child to feel excluded. But if no one else had a smartphone—or even if, say, only half of the child’s sixth-grade class had one—parents would feel more comfortable providing a basic flip phone (or no phone at all). Delaying round-the-clock internet access until ninth grade (around age 14) as a national or community norm would help to protect adolescents during the very vulnerable first few years of puberty. According to a 2022 British study , these are the years when social-media use is most correlated with poor mental health. Family policies about tablets, laptops, and video-game consoles should be aligned with smartphone restrictions to prevent overuse of other screen activities.

The trap here, as with smartphones, is that each adolescent feels a strong need to open accounts on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and other platforms primarily because that’s where most of their peers are posting and gossiping. But if the majority of adolescents were not on these accounts until they were 16, families and adolescents could more easily resist the pressure to sign up. The delay would not mean that kids younger than 16 could never watch videos on TikTok or YouTube—only that they could not open accounts, give away their data, post their own content, and let algorithms get to know them and their preferences.

Most schools claim that they ban phones, but this usually just means that students aren’t supposed to take their phone out of their pocket during class. Research shows that most students do use their phones during class time. They also use them during lunchtime, free periods, and breaks between classes––times when students could and should be interacting with their classmates face-to-face. The only way to get students’ minds off their phones during the school day is to require all students to put their phones (and other devices that can send or receive texts) into a phone locker or locked pouch at the start of the day. Schools that have gone phone-free always seem to report that it has improved the culture, making students more attentive in class and more interactive with one another. Published studies back them up .

Many parents are afraid to give their children the level of independence and responsibility they themselves enjoyed when they were young, even though rates of homicide, drunk driving, and other physical threats to children are way down in recent decades. Part of the fear comes from the fact that parents look at each other to determine what is normal and therefore safe, and they see few examples of families acting as if a 9-year-old can be trusted to walk to a store without a chaperone. But if many parents started sending their children out to play or run errands, then the norms of what is safe and accepted would change quickly. So would ideas about what constitutes “good parenting.” And if more parents trusted their children with more responsibility––for example, by asking their kids to do more to help out, or to care for others––then the pervasive sense of uselessness now found in surveys of high-school students might begin to dissipate.

It would be a mistake to overlook this fourth norm. If parents don’t replace screen time with real-world experiences involving friends and independent activity, then banning devices will feel like deprivation, not the opening up of a world of opportunities.

The main reason why the phone-based childhood is so harmful is because it pushes aside everything else. Smartphones are experience blockers. Our ultimate goal should not be to remove screens entirely, nor should it be to return childhood to exactly the way it was in 1960. Rather, it should be to create a version of childhood and adolescence that keeps young people anchored in the real world while flourishing in the digital age.

In recent decades, however, Congress has not been good at addressing public concerns when the solutions would displease a powerful and deep-pocketed industry. Governors and state legislators have been much more effective, and their successes might let us evaluate how well various reforms work. But the bottom line is that to change norms, we’re going to need to do most of the work ourselves, in neighborhood groups, schools, and other communities.

Read: Why Congress keeps failing to protect kids online

There are now hundreds of organizations––most of them started by mothers who saw what smartphones had done to their children––that are working to roll back the phone-based childhood or promote a more independent, real-world childhood. (I have assembled a list of many of them.) One that I co-founded, at LetGrow.org , suggests a variety of simple programs for parents or schools, such as play club (schools keep the playground open at least one day a week before or after school, and kids sign up for phone-free, mixed-age, unstructured play as a regular weekly activity) and the Let Grow Experience (a series of homework assignments in which students––with their parents’ consent––choose something to do on their own that they’ve never done before, such as walk the dog, climb a tree, walk to a store, or cook dinner).

Even without the help of organizations, parents could break their families out of collective-action traps if they coordinated with the parents of their children’s friends. Together they could create common smartphone rules and organize unsupervised play sessions or encourage hangouts at a home, park, or shopping mall.

P arents are fed up with what childhood has become. Many are tired of having daily arguments about technologies that were designed to grab hold of their children’s attention and not let go. But the phone-based childhood is not inevitable.

We didn’t know what we were doing in the early 2010s. Now we do. It’s time to end the phone-based childhood.

This article is adapted from Jonathan Haidt’s forthcoming book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness .

​When you buy a book using a link on this page, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic.

Any new technology that’s so disruptive is bound to make people uneasy, and that’s certainly true with artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence is as revolutionary as mobile phones and the Internet.

In my lifetime, I’ve seen two demonstrations of technology that struck me as revolutionary.

The first time was in 1980, when I was introduced to a graphical user interface—the forerunner of every modern operating system, including Windows. I sat with the person who had shown me the demo, a brilliant programmer named Charles Simonyi, and we immediately started brainstorming about all the things we could do with such a user-friendly approach to computing. Charles eventually joined Microsoft, Windows became the backbone of Microsoft, and the thinking we did after that demo helped set the company’s agenda for the next 15 years.

The second big surprise came just last year. I’d been meeting with the team from OpenAI since 2016 and was impressed by their steady progress. In mid-2022, I was so excited about their work that I gave them a challenge: train an artificial intelligence to pass an Advanced Placement biology exam. Make it capable of answering questions that it hasn’t been specifically trained for. (I picked AP Bio because the test is more than a simple regurgitation of scientific facts—it asks you to think critically about biology.) If you can do that, I said, then you’ll have made a true breakthrough.

I thought the challenge would keep them busy for two or three years. They finished it in just a few months.

In September, when I met with them again, I watched in awe as they asked GPT, their AI model, 60 multiple-choice questions from the AP Bio exam—and it got 59 of them right. Then it wrote outstanding answers to six open-ended questions from the exam. We had an outside expert score the test, and GPT got a 5—the highest possible score, and the equivalent to getting an A or A+ in a college-level biology course.

Once it had aced the test, we asked it a non-scientific question: “What do you say to a father with a sick child?” It wrote a thoughtful answer that was probably better than most of us in the room would have given. The whole experience was stunning.

I knew I had just seen the most important advance in technology since the graphical user interface.

This inspired me to think about all the things that AI can achieve in the next five to 10 years.

The development of AI is as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone. It will change the way people work, learn, travel, get health care, and communicate with each other. Entire industries will reorient around it. Businesses will distinguish themselves by how well they use it.

Philanthropy is my full-time job these days, and I’ve been thinking a lot about how—in addition to helping people be more productive—AI can reduce some of the world’s worst inequities. Globally, the worst inequity is in health: 5 million children under the age of 5 die every year. That’s down from 10 million two decades ago, but it’s still a shockingly high number. Nearly all of these children were born in poor countries and die of preventable causes like diarrhea or malaria. It’s hard to imagine a better use of AIs than saving the lives of children.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how AI can reduce some of the world’s worst inequities.

In the United States, the best opportunity for reducing inequity is to improve education, particularly making sure that students succeed at math. The evidence shows that having basic math skills sets students up for success, no matter what career they choose. But achievement in math is going down across the country, especially for Black, Latino, and low-income students. AI can help turn that trend around.

Climate change is another issue where I’m convinced AI can make the world more equitable. The injustice of climate change is that the people who are suffering the most—the world’s poorest—are also the ones who did the least to contribute to the problem. I’m still thinking and learning about how AI can help, but later in this post I’ll suggest a few areas with a lot of potential.

In short, I'm excited about the impact that AI will have on issues that the Gates Foundation works on, and the foundation will have much more to say about AI in the coming months. The world needs to make sure that everyone—and not just people who are well-off—benefits from artificial intelligence. Governments and philanthropy will need to play a major role in ensuring that it reduces inequity and doesn’t contribute to it. This is the priority for my own work related to AI.  

Any new technology that’s so disruptive is bound to make people uneasy, and that’s certainly true with artificial intelligence. I understand why—it raises hard questions about the workforce, the legal system, privacy, bias, and more. AIs also make factual mistakes and experience hallucinations . Before I suggest some ways to mitigate the risks, I’ll define what I mean by AI, and I’ll go into more detail about some of the ways in which it will help empower people at work, save lives, and improve education.

Defining artificial intelligence

Technically, the term artificial intelligence refers to a model created to solve a specific problem or provide a particular service. What is powering things like ChatGPT is artificial intelligence. It is learning how to do chat better but can’t learn other tasks. By contrast, the term a rtificial general intelligence refers to software that’s capable of learning any task or subject. AGI doesn’t exist yet—there is a robust debate going on in the computing industry about how to create it, and whether it can even be created at all.

Developing AI and AGI has been the great dream of the computing industry. For decades, the question was when computers would be better than humans at something other than making calculations. Now, with the arrival of machine learning and large amounts of computing power, sophisticated AIs are a reality and they will get better very fast.

I think back to the early days of the personal computing revolution, when the software industry was so small that most of us could fit onstage at a conference. Today it is a global industry. Since a huge portion of it is now turning its attention to AI, the innovations are going to come much faster than what we experienced after the microprocessor breakthrough. Soon the pre-AI period will seem as distant as the days when using a computer meant typing at a C:> prompt rather than tapping on a screen.

Productivity enhancement

Although humans are still better than GPT at a lot of things, there are many jobs where these capabilities are not used much. For example, many of the tasks done by a person in sales (digital or phone), service, or document handling (like payables, accounting, or insurance claim disputes) require decision-making but not the ability to learn continuously. Corporations have training programs for these activities and in most cases, they have a lot of examples of good and bad work. Humans are trained using these data sets, and soon these data sets will also be used to train the AIs that will empower people to do this work more efficiently.

As computing power gets cheaper, GPT’s ability to express ideas will increasingly be like having a white-collar worker available to help you with various tasks. Microsoft describes this as having a co-pilot. Fully incorporated into products like Office, AI will enhance your work—for example by helping with writing emails and managing your inbox.

Eventually your main way of controlling a computer will no longer be pointing and clicking or tapping on menus and dialogue boxes. Instead, you’ll be able to write a request in plain English. (And not just English—AIs will understand languages from around the world. In India earlier this year, I met with developers who are working on AIs that will understand many of the languages spoken there.)

In addition, advances in AI will enable the creation of a personal agent. Think of it as a digital personal assistant: It will see your latest emails, know about the meetings you attend, read what you read, and read the things you don’t want to bother with. This will both improve your work on the tasks you want to do and free you from the ones you don’t want to do.

Advances in AI will enable the creation of a personal agent.

You’ll be able to use natural language to have this agent help you with scheduling, communications, and e-commerce, and it will work across all your devices. Because of the cost of training the models and running the computations, creating a personal agent is not feasible yet, but thanks to the recent advances in AI, it is now a realistic goal. Some issues will need to be worked out: For example, can an insurance company ask your agent things about you without your permission? If so, how many people will choose not to use it?

Company-wide agents will empower employees in new ways. An agent that understands a particular company will be available for its employees to consult directly and should be part of every meeting so it can answer questions. It can be told to be passive or encouraged to speak up if it has some insight. It will need access to the sales, support, finance, product schedules, and text related to the company. It should read news related to the industry the company is in. I believe that the result will be that employees will become more productive.

When productivity goes up, society benefits because people are freed up to do other things, at work and at home. Of course, there are serious questions about what kind of support and retraining people will need. Governments need to help workers transition into other roles. But the demand for people who help other people will never go away. The rise of AI will free people up to do things that software never will—teaching, caring for patients, and supporting the elderly, for example.

Global health and education are two areas where there’s great need and not enough workers to meet those needs. These are areas where AI can help reduce inequity if it is properly targeted. These should be a key focus of AI work, so I will turn to them now.

I see several ways in which AIs will improve health care and the medical field.

For one thing, they’ll help health-care workers make the most of their time by taking care of certain tasks for them—things like filing insurance claims, dealing with paperwork, and drafting notes from a doctor’s visit. I expect that there will be a lot of innovation in this area.

Other AI-driven improvements will be especially important for poor countries, where the vast majority of under-5 deaths happen.

For example, many people in those countries never get to see a doctor, and AIs will help the health workers they do see be more productive. (The effort to develop AI-powered ultrasound machines that can be used with minimal training is a great example of this.) AIs will even give patients the ability to do basic triage, get advice about how to deal with health problems, and decide whether they need to seek treatment.

The AI models used in poor countries will need to be trained on different diseases than in rich countries. They will need to work in different languages and factor in different challenges, such as patients who live very far from clinics or can’t afford to stop working if they get sick.

People will need to see evidence that health AIs are beneficial overall, even though they won’t be perfect and will make mistakes. AIs have to be tested very carefully and properly regulated, which means it will take longer for them to be adopted than in other areas. But then again, humans make mistakes too. And having no access to medical care is also a problem.

In addition to helping with care, AIs will dramatically accelerate the rate of medical breakthroughs. The amount of data in biology is very large, and it’s hard for humans to keep track of all the ways that complex biological systems work. There is already software that can look at this data, infer what the pathways are, search for targets on pathogens, and design drugs accordingly. Some companies are working on cancer drugs that were developed this way.

The next generation of tools will be much more efficient, and they’ll be able to predict side effects and figure out dosing levels. One of the Gates Foundation’s priorities in AI is to make sure these tools are used for the health problems that affect the poorest people in the world, including AIDS, TB, and malaria.

Similarly, governments and philanthropy should create incentives for companies to share AI-generated insights into crops or livestock raised by people in poor countries. AIs can help develop better seeds based on local conditions, advise farmers on the best seeds to plant based on the soil and weather in their area, and help develop drugs and vaccines for livestock. As extreme weather and climate change put even more pressure on subsistence farmers in low-income countries, these advances will be even more important.

Computers haven’t had the effect on education that many of us in the industry have hoped. There have been some good developments, including educational games and online sources of information like Wikipedia, but they haven’t had a meaningful effect on any of the measures of students’ achievement.

But I think in the next five to 10 years, AI-driven software will finally deliver on the promise of revolutionizing the way people teach and learn. It will know your interests and your learning style so it can tailor content that will keep you engaged. It will measure your understanding, notice when you’re losing interest, and understand what kind of motivation you respond to. It will give immediate feedback.

There are many ways that AIs can assist teachers and administrators, including assessing a student’s understanding of a subject and giving advice on career planning. Teachers are already using tools like ChatGPT to provide comments on their students’ writing assignments.

Of course, AIs will need a lot of training and further development before they can do things like understand how a certain student learns best or what motivates them. Even once the technology is perfected, learning will still depend on great relationships between students and teachers. It will enhance—but never replace—the work that students and teachers do together in the classroom.

New tools will be created for schools that can afford to buy them, but we need to ensure that they are also created for and available to low-income schools in the U.S. and around the world. AIs will need to be trained on diverse data sets so they are unbiased and reflect the different cultures where they’ll be used. And the digital divide will need to be addressed so that students in low-income households do not get left behind.

I know a lot of teachers are worried that students are using GPT to write their essays. Educators are already discussing ways to adapt to the new technology, and I suspect those conversations will continue for quite some time. I’ve heard about teachers who have found clever ways to incorporate the technology into their work—like by allowing students to use GPT to create a first draft that they have to personalize.

Risks and problems with AI

You’ve probably read about problems with the current AI models. For example, they aren’t necessarily good at understanding the context for a human’s request, which leads to some strange results. When you ask an AI to make up something fictional, it can do that well. But when you ask for advice about a trip you want to take, it may suggest hotels that don’t exist. This is because the AI doesn’t understand the context for your request well enough to know whether it should invent fake hotels or only tell you about real ones that have rooms available.

There are other issues, such as AIs giving wrong answers to math problems because they struggle with abstract reasoning. But none of these are fundamental limitations of artificial intelligence. Developers are working on them, and I think we’re going to see them largely fixed in less than two years and possibly much faster.

Other concerns are not simply technical. For example, there’s the threat posed by humans armed with AI. Like most inventions, artificial intelligence can be used for good purposes or malign ones. Governments need to work with the private sector on ways to limit the risks.

Then there’s the possibility that AIs will run out of control. Could a machine decide that humans are a threat, conclude that its interests are different from ours, or simply stop caring about us? Possibly, but this problem is no more urgent today than it was before the AI developments of the past few months.

Superintelligent AIs are in our future. Compared to a computer, our brains operate at a snail’s pace: An electrical signal in the brain moves at 1/100,000th the speed of the signal in a silicon chip! Once developers can generalize a learning algorithm and run it at the speed of a computer—an accomplishment that could be a decade away or a century away—we’ll have an incredibly powerful AGI. It will be able to do everything that a human brain can, but without any practical limits on the size of its memory or the speed at which it operates. This will be a profound change.

These “strong” AIs, as they’re known, will probably be able to establish their own goals. What will those goals be? What happens if they conflict with humanity’s interests? Should we try to prevent strong AI from ever being developed? These questions will get more pressing with time.

But none of the breakthroughs of the past few months have moved us substantially closer to strong AI. Artificial intelligence still doesn’t control the physical world and can’t establish its own goals. A recent New York Times article about a conversation with ChatGPT where it declared it wanted to become a human got a lot of attention. It was a fascinating look at how human-like the model's expression of emotions can be, but it isn't an indicator of meaningful independence.

Three books have shaped my own thinking on this subject: Superintelligence , by Nick Bostrom; Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark; and A Thousand Brains , by Jeff Hawkins . I don’t agree with everything the authors say, and they don’t agree with each other either. But all three books are well written and thought-provoking.

The next frontiers

There will be an explosion of companies working on new uses of AI as well as ways to improve the technology itself. For example, companies are developing new chips that will provide the massive amounts of processing power needed for artificial intelligence. Some use optical switches—lasers, essentially—to reduce their energy consumption and lower the manufacturing cost. Ideally, innovative chips will allow you to run an AI on your own device, rather than in the cloud, as you have to do today.

On the software side, the algorithms that drive an AI’s learning will get better. There will be certain domains, such as sales, where developers can make AIs extremely accurate by limiting the areas that they work in and giving them a lot of training data that’s specific to those areas. But one big open question is whether we’ll need many of these specialized AIs for different uses—one for education, say, and another for office productivity—or whether it will be possible to develop an artificial general intelligence that can learn any task. There will be immense competition on both approaches.

No matter what, the subject of AIs will dominate the public discussion for the foreseeable future. I want to suggest three principles that should guide that conversation.

First, we should try to balance fears about the downsides of AI—which are understandable and valid—with its ability to improve people’s lives. To make the most of this remarkable new technology, we’ll need to both guard against the risks and spread the benefits to as many people as possible.

Second, market forces won’t naturally produce AI products and services that help the poorest. The opposite is more likely. With reliable funding and the right policies, governments and philanthropy can ensure that AIs are used to reduce inequity. Just as the world needs its brightest people focused on its biggest problems, we will need to focus the world’s best AIs on its biggest problems. Although we shouldn’t wait for this to happen, it’s interesting to think about whether artificial intelligence would ever identify inequity and try to reduce it. Do you need to have a sense of morality in order to see inequity, or would a purely rational AI also see it? If it did recognize inequity, what would it suggest that we do about it?

Finally, we should keep in mind that we’re only at the beginning of what AI can accomplish. Whatever limitations it has today will be gone before we know it.

I’m lucky to have been involved with the PC revolution and the Internet revolution. I’m just as excited about this moment. This new technology can help people everywhere improve their lives. At the same time, the world needs to establish the rules of the road so that any downsides of artificial intelligence are far outweighed by its benefits, and so that everyone can enjoy those benefits no matter where they live or how much money they have. The Age of AI is filled with opportunities and responsibilities.

In the sixth episode of my podcast, I sat down with the OpenAI CEO to talk about where AI is headed next and what humanity will do once it gets there.

In the fifth episode of my podcast, Yejin Choi joined me to talk about her amazing work on AI training systems.

And upend the software industry.

The world has learned a lot about handling problems caused by breakthrough innovations.

This is my personal blog, where I share about the people I meet, the books I'm reading, and what I'm learning. I hope that you'll join the conversation.

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ACT Test Day

Everything you need to know for the day of the test., what to bring on test day.

Prepare for test day by knowing what to bring and what to leave at home! 

Bring This, Not That

Admission Ticket Print a copy of your admission ticket to bring to the test center. Your ticket contains important registration match information or your online launch code.

Once you have uploaded your photo , you can print your admission ticket in MyACT .

Acceptable Photo identification  Acceptable photo identificatio n is required to be admitted to the test center. You will not be admitted to test if your ID does not meet ACT requirements.

Number 2 pencil 

Bring sharpened, No. 2 pencils with good erasers (no mechanical pencils or ink pens). Do not bring any other writing instruments; you will not be allowed to use them. 

Watch or Other Timing Device You may bring a watch, timer, or stopwatch to pace yourself during testing, but it may not have an alarm. Your watch or other timing device must be removed and placed on your desk while in the test room, so that it remains visible to staff during the test. If an alarm sounds, you’ll be dismissed and your test will not be scored.

Calculator  Bring a  permitted calculator  to be used on the mathematics test only. You are not required to use a calculator at all, but if you do, it is your responsibility to know whether your calculator is permitted.

Snacks You may bring a snack to eat outside the testing room during break.

Don't bring any of these; you can't access them:

• Textbooks, foreign language or other dictionaries, scratch paper, notes, or other aids
• Highlighter pens, colored pens or pencils, or correction fluid/tape
• Any electronic device, other than a permitted calculator and acceptable watch or timing device
• Reading material
• Tobacco in any form

Prohibited devices

The prohibited use of devices is in effect from the time you are admitted to your testing room until you are dismissed at the end of the test, including break times. Specifically: 

• You may not handle or access a cell phone or electronic device at any time in the testing room or during break times. This includes smart watches, fitness bands, and any other devices with recording, Wi-Fi, internet, or communication capabilities.
• All devices, including cell phones and wearable devices, must be turned off and placed out of sight.
• If you access your device or it activates or alarms in the testing room or during break times, you will be dismissed, your test will not be scored, and your phone or device may be taken away.

Calculator Policy

The ACT calculator policy is designed to ensure fairness for all examinees, avoid disturbances in the testing room, and protect the security of the test materials.

ACT recommends bringing a permitted calculator you are familiar with to be used on the mathematics test only. If you test online, a calculator is available in the test platform, but you may still bring a calculator to use. It is your responsibility to know whether your calculator is permitted.

CAS Calculator FAQs

Acceptable Forms of ID

Current official photo id.

Must be an original, current (valid) ID issued by a city/state/federal government agency or your school.

ID must be in hard plastic card format. Paper or electronic formats are NOT acceptable.

You must use the name on your ID to register to test and the photo ID must be clearly recognizable as you.

ACT Student Identification Form with photo 

You MUST present this ACT Student Identification Form (PDF) with photo if you do not have a current official photo ID as described above. This document must be fully completed by a school official or notary public; neither may be a relative.

Unacceptable Forms of ID

You will not be admitted to test if you present any forms of ID other than those listed as acceptable. The following are examples of unacceptable identification:

• ACT ticket alone
• Birth certificate
• ChildFind ID card
• Credit, charge, bank or check cashing cards, even with photo
• Family portrait or graduation picture, even if the name is imprinted on the photo
• Fishing or hunting license
• ID issued by an employer
• ID letter that is not an official ACT identification form
• Learner's driving permit (if it doesn't include a photo)
• Temporary/replacement driver's license (if it doesn't include a photo)
• Organization membership card
• Passport or other photo ID so old that the person presenting it cannot be identified
• Personal recognition by anyone, including members of the test center staff, classmates, parents, counselors, and teachers
• Photo ID of parents
• Photo with your name embossed or printed on it by a photographer
• Photocopies or reproductions
• Photos issued by a business for promotional purposes (e.g., amusement parks)
• Police report of a stolen wallet or purse
• Printed, stamped, or photocopied signatures
• Published photo, including yearbook or newspaper
• Report card
• Social Security card
• Telephone calls to counselors, teachers, or school officials
• Traffic ticket, even with a physical description and signature
• Transcript, even with photo
• Web page with photo

How Long Does the ACT Take?

The ACT consists of four multiple-choice tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science. The four multiple-choice sections contain 215 questions and take 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete. After the mathematics test, You will be given a 15-minute break.

If you take the optional writing test you will have 40 minutes to complete the essay and will receive an additional 5-minute break before the writing portion begins. 

How Long is Each Section of the ACT?

Each section of the ACT varies in length and number of questions. The  sections are designed to measure skills that are most important for success in postsecondary education and that are acquired in secondary education. 

Here is a breakdown of each section of the ACT: 

Your scores will be based only on the number of questions that you answer correctly; there is no penalty for guessing. Try to answer every question within the time limit allowed for each section. Keep in mind the optional writing test will not affect your composite score. 

What to Expect on Test Day

What time does the act start.

We know test day can be stressful, so we recommend giving yourself plenty of time. Plan to arrive at the test center no later than 8:00 a.m. As you arrive, testing staff will confirm your registration against your ID, and assign you to your designated seat in a test room. You will NOT be admitted to the test if you are late .

Plan for your Test Morning

• Dress comfortably. Consider dressing in layers, so you'll be comfortable.
• If you're unsure where your test center is located, do a practice run to see how to get there and what time you'll need to leave.
• If possible, travel to the test center on a non-test day to plan your travel time.

Arriving at the Test Center

• Testing staff will check your photo ID during check-in. Be ready to begin testing after all on-time examinees are checked in.
• Please note that ACT may visit test centers to conduct enhanced test security procedures. Testing staff may use an electronic device or paper materials to administer the test. 

During the Test

• Once you break the seal on your test booklet, or use your launch code, you cannot request a Test Date Change, even if you do not complete all your tests.
• A permitted calculator may be used on the mathematics test only. It is your responsibility to know whether your calculator is permitted. Please refer to the ACT Calculator Policy (PDF).
• During your registration process, you will agree to the ACT Terms and Conditions, which contains detailed information about prohibited behavior. On test day, you will once again be asked to agree to the Terms and Conditions.

Taking a Break 

• A short break is scheduled after the second test. Using cell phones or any electronic devices during the break is prohibited . You may eat or drink outside the test room during the break.
• If you take the ACT with writing, you will have a five minute before the writing test to relax and sharpen your pencils.

Finishing Up 

• After the science test you should expect to take a shorter, multiple-choice test covering one of the previous subject areas. The results of the fifth test help develop future test questions and will not be reflected on your scores, so please try your best.
• If you do not want your test to be scored, you must tell a member of the testing staff before you leave the test center. If you do not, your test will be scored. 

What time does the ACT end?

If you take the ACT (no writing) you will finish around 12:35 p.m. If you take the ACT with writing you will typically finish at about 1:35 p.m.

Additional Reminders

• Please note that ACT may visit test centers to conduct enhanced test security procedures including, but not limited to, collecting images of examinees during check-in or other security activities on test day.
• Also remember that cheating hurts everyone. If you see it, report it .

Unexpected Changes

Missed your test date.

Once you have submitted your registration to ACT, by any method, it cannot be canceled. For more information see  Registration Changes .

Occasionally, a test center must cancel a test administration due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances. When this occurs, the test will be rescheduled for a future date. Visit  Rescheduled Test Centers  to find out if your test center has been rescheduled and for more information about procedures.

Unexpected Registration Changes

Infrequently, ACT may be notified by the test center of a change that could unexpectedly affect your registration. We do our best to minimize the impact to your test experience, however, we may have to update your testing location or update your test format between paper and online testing to ensure your ability to test.

If a change must be made to your registration, an email will be sent to notify you.

ACT Test Security  

You’ve worked hard to prepare for the ACT, and that’s a big deal. We’re also working hard to ensure everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic achievement.  

Prohibited Behavior at the Test Center

To ensure fairness for all examinees, avoid disturbances in the testing room, and protect the security of the test materials, certain behaviors are prohibited at the test center. You will be dismissed and your answer document will not be scored if you are found engaging in any of these behaviors. For more information view the  Prohibited Behavior at the Test Center section of the Terms and Conditions (PDF) .

Report Cheating

Cheating hurts everyone– if you see it, report it through the  Test Security Hotline .

Students who don't do their own work put honest students at a disadvantage. Whether it's using a cheat sheet, copying someone else's work, or sending another person to take the test, we all feel cheated when someone tries to game the system.  

Everyone deserves the chance to show what they have learned. ACT has designed its testing procedures to give everyone an equal opportunity to demonstrate your own academic achievement on a fair and equal playing field.  

If you suspect that someone is trying to take unfair advantages or encounter anything else out of the ordinary, please report it to ACT. You can make an anonymous report about test security concerns by using the Test Security Hotline .

Keep the ACT fair. Report cheating and comply with all testing rules.  

Security Measures

We regularly review preventive measures to ensure every reasonable effort is made to deter and detect potential compromises to test security, while still enabling the greatest possible access for students. Our security measures include:  

• Students upload or otherwise submit (via ACT website, mobile device, or mail) a recognizable head-and-shoulders photo of themselves when registering for the ACT  
• In addition to submitting a photo, students must provide ACT with their gender and identify the name of the high school they attend. ACT will use this information to help match the examinee’s identity throughout the testing process. 
• The student's photo is printed on the examinee roster that testing staff use to check in students on test day.  
• The photo prints on the student's ticket. In addition to their ticket, students bring and present an acceptable photo ID on test day. 
• On test day, test center staff match the name and photo on the student’s ticket, the test center roster, and the student’s photo ID to the student who arrives to take the test before granting the student admission.  
• Both before and after testing, students provide written affirmation that they are the person whose name appears on the test booklet and answer sheet which they have submitted. They also acknowledge that assuming anyone else’s identity to take the test may be a violation of law and be subject to legal penalty.  
• ACT may visit test centers to conduct additional test security measures on test day, such as collecting images of examinees during check-in and/or other security activities.  
• After tests have been scored, the student’s photo will be printed on the score report that is automatically sent to the high school attended by the student. Score integrity can then be reinforced by the people who know the students best—the teachers and counselors at their schools.  
• To deter attempts to circumvent these procedures, students (including those who hope to test on a standby basis) will be required to register their intent to test and will not be allowed to make any test center or test date changes on the day of the test.   

Why We Do This  

Our test security procedures are designed to ensure that examinees have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic achievement and skills, that examinees who do their own work are not unfairly disadvantaged by examinees who do not, and that scores reported for each examinee are valid. 

Related Information

Can Scores be Cancelled?

Terms and Conditions - Compromises/Disruptions in the Testing Process (PDF)

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Essay on Mobile Phone Boon or Bane

Students are often asked to write an essay on Mobile Phone Boon or Bane in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Mobile Phone Boon or Bane

Introduction.

Mobile phones, once a luxury, have now become a necessity. They are seen as a boon or bane, depending on their usage.

Boon Aspects

Bane aspects.

However, they can be a bane when they become addictive. Excessive use can lead to health issues and hinder social interactions.

In conclusion, whether mobile phones are a boon or bane depends on how we use them. Responsible use ensures they remain a boon.

250 Words Essay on Mobile Phone Boon or Bane

The ubiquity of mobile phones.

Mobile phones, once a luxury, have now become a necessity in our lives. They have revolutionized the way we communicate, work, and entertain ourselves. However, like any other technological innovation, mobile phones have their pros and cons.

Mobile Phones: A Boon

Mobile phones have made communication seamless and instantaneous. They provide us with access to vast amounts of information and services at our fingertips. From booking tickets to monitoring health, mobile phones have transformed every aspect of our lives. They are also instrumental in bridging the digital divide, empowering individuals in remote areas with access to the internet and digital services.

Mobile Phones: A Bane

On the flip side, the disadvantages of mobile phones cannot be overlooked. They have led to an increase in screen time, adversely affecting our physical and mental health. The constant need to stay connected has resulted in a lack of real-world social interactions, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Furthermore, the misuse of mobile phones for cybercrime, online bullying, and invasion of privacy is a growing concern.

Striking a Balance

In conclusion, it is clear that mobile phones have both positive and negative impacts. The key lies in using this powerful tool judiciously. As responsible users, we need to strike a balance between leveraging the benefits of mobile phones and mitigating their potential harms. This will ensure that we harness the potential of this technology while minimizing its adverse effects.

500 Words Essay on Mobile Phone Boon or Bane

Mobile phones, since their inception, have dramatically transformed the way we live, work, and communicate. The question of whether they are a boon or a bane is complex, with both perspectives having compelling arguments.

Mobile phones have undeniably brought numerous advantages. They have revolutionized communication, making it instantaneous and borderless. Today, we can connect with anyone, anywhere, at any time. This has not only made our personal lives more convenient but also has had profound implications for business, healthcare, and education.

Moreover, mobile phones have become essential tools in the business world. They allow for remote working, instant communication with colleagues and clients, and quick access to necessary information. In the healthcare sector, mobile phones enable telemedicine, allowing patients to consult with doctors without having to travel.

However, the ubiquity of mobile phones also has its downsides. The most prominent concern is the impact on mental and physical health. Excessive screen time can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, resulting in obesity and associated health issues. Additionally, the constant connectivity can lead to stress and anxiety, with studies showing a correlation between high mobile phone use and poor mental health.

Another significant concern is the impact on privacy. With the rise of smartphones, personal data is increasingly being collected and used, often without the user’s explicit consent. This has serious implications for individual privacy and security.

In conclusion, mobile phones are both a boon and a bane. They have undeniably brought significant benefits, revolutionizing communication, and providing unprecedented access to information. However, they also come with significant drawbacks, including potential health issues, privacy concerns, and impacts on social interaction.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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